Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was 'a Kannadiga', claims dy cm Govind Karjol

(Eds; recasts) Belagavi, Jan 31 (PTI): Two Deputy Chief Ministers ofKarnataka on Sunday lashed out at Maharashtra Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray for raking up the border issue, with oneclaiming that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was 'a Kannadiga'.

''Thackeray does not know history. Shivaji's forefatherBelliyappa was from Soratur in Gadag district in Karnataka.

When there was drought in Gadag, Belliyappa left forMaharashtra.

Shivaji was the fourth generation of the family.

Thackeray should remember that Chhatrapati ShivajiMaharaj, whom the Shiv Sena perceives as its icon and namedits party after him, was a Kannadiga,'' Deputy Chief MinisterGovind Karjol told reporters here.

He said this in response to Thackeray raising the borderissue repeatedly.

Thackeray had been raising the issue of merger ofBelagavi, Karwar and Nippani which has a strong presence ofMarathi speaking people, with his state.

He had recently demanded that the Marathi speaking regionsin Karnataka be declared a Union Territory till the SupremeCourt gives its final verdict.

Karjol opined that Thackeray had been raising this issuejust to divert attention from the infighting in the coalitiongovernment headed by him and fear of losing power Echoing similar views, Deputy CM Laxman Savadi allegedthat the Maharashtra government had failed miserably onvarious counts.

He also alleged that Thackeray could not carry out anypro-people measures during the COVID-19 pandemic due to whichhe was losing his popularity.

Savadi had on January 27 dwelt on Thackeray's statementand said Mumbai should be part of Karnataka and that theCentre should declare it a Union territory till then.

Ramesh Jarkiholi,Minister in-charge of Belagavi district,which borders Maharashtra, had spoken along the lines of theDeputy CMs today Minister for Women and Child Development ShashikalaJolle, who hails from Belagavi district, had said Belgavi isthe land from where Kittur Rani Chennamma had led an armedrebellion against the British for freedom.