K’taka objects to Maha’s case over border issue

Belagavi (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the state has objected to the jurisdiction of Maharashtra in a case pertaining to the border issue. The neighbouring Maharashtra has locked horn with Karnataka on border row, especially claiming that Belagavi should be merged with it.

According to the chief minister, Maharashtra has filed a case in the Supreme Court in this regard. Speaking to reporters here, he said the Karnataka government will hire a good lawyer to fight the case. “We will hire a good lawyer.

According to me, there is no case. Maharashtra has filed a case. Our objection is on jurisdiction. Jurisdiction has to be decided first whether they have a locus standi or not, whether they are entitled to file a case or not,” the CM said.

Responding to a question on reports that about three crore voters in the state have not been mapped as per the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process undertaken by the Election Commission of India, Siddaramaiah said the Congress has cautioned people about it.

“The SIR exercise must be carried out with utmost caution. We have told our Block Level Agents and voters to be cautious,” he said. The chief minister denied that the Congress is taking the SIR politically. “The Congress will never indulge in politics over the SIR process being conducted by the Election Commission but our only concern is that genuine voters should not be excluded from the voters’ list,” he said.

Responding to the demand that municipal corporation elections be held through ballot papers, he said it is also their (Congress) wish.

Commenting on the Governor returning the bill related to the internal reservation among scheduled castes, Siddaramaiah said appropriate explanations would be provided to the questions raised by the Governor regarding the bill.