Thursday, September 28 2006 11:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil yesterday (Sept 27,2006) said there is a growing demand to convene a special session of state legislature to discuss the decades-old boundary dispute with Karnataka, and launched a veiled attack on the JD(S)-BJP government's move on Belgaum.

He also stood by his controversial speech, extending steadfast support of the state to the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum and border areas of Karnataka.

The minister questioned the `propriety' of holding a special session of Karnataka Assembly in Belgaum and declaring it as that state's second capital.

"What was the need to hold a special session of Karnataka Assembly and declaring Belgaum as the second capital when the border row is sub-judice," he told reporters here.

"There is a growing demand to convene a special two-day session of Maharashtra legislature on the border row," he said, adding he would `convey' sentiments of the people, especially members of his NCP, to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

"I did not incite people and my speech was not inflammatory," Patil said when asked about reports that the Karnataka CM had criticised his remarks at a recent convention in Belgaum organised by a pro-Maharashtra body.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Animal Husbandary HasanMushrif told reporters that the people in the state would stage a `massive jail bharo' agitation if Karnataka Government initiated any action against Patil.

On September 25, Patil had assured Marathi-speaking people of Karnataka's border areas that the 10 crore people of Maharashtra supported their struggle.