The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Sunday said he wanted the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to advise Maharashtra government to judiciously handle the situation arising out of the row over Belgaum bordering the two states.
Condemning the incident in Kolhapur in Maharashtra in which Kannadigas were attacked, he said "I requested the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and advise Maharashtra government to handle the situation judiciously."
"Our stand on the Belgaum issue is very clear. I have repeatedly said that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and will remain so. Mahajan Commission report is final," the Chief Minister told reporters.
Appealing to Marathis and Kannadigas to exercise restraint, he said "we are Indians first, Kannadigas and Marathis later."
The vexed boundary issue involving Belgaum came to the fore again with Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan demanding Union Territory status to disputed areas and his Karnataka counterpart denying even the existence of a dispute.