The Congress-NCP combine in the state has now resorted to defensive measures over the Belgaum border issue. Feeling the heat a day after the UPA disowned the state’s claim over Belgaum, the MPCC has written to PM Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to rethink the UPA’s stand. Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar added his opinion to the fray, saying that the Centre was to remain neutral on the issue and its stand was unreasonable.
MPCC president Man-ikrao Thakare said that he had already written to the PMO and Mrs Gandhi, saying that the border issue is linked to the emotions of millions of Marathi-speaking people. There has been serious discontentment over the Centre’s affidavit in the top court criticising the state for staking claim to the border districts of Gulbarga and Belgaum in Karnataka, he said.