“If they enter like China, Kannadigas will face them and push them back like our Indian Army,” said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today (22 December) in Belagavi.

Addressing media persons near the Suvarna Soudha, in the border district, where the winter session is being held, Bommai responded to questions regarding Sanjay Raut’s recent statement on the border row.

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena’s leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday (21 December) said “Like China has entered, we will enter (Karnataka). We don't need anyone's permission”.

Addressing media on the question of Karnataka saying it won't spare an inch of its land, Raut said ‘the matter was not about an inch of land, but this language of inches of land is what their government, which is also at the centre, speaks. They keep saying we wont give an inch of land to China, but it has entered. And we too will“.

Raut said the matter can be solved by discussion but the Chief Minister of Karnataka is ’igniting the matter, and this is because we have such a weak government in Maharashtra which isn't playing a decisive role in this matter’.

‘'It is because of the CM, DCM’s refusal to play a role in this matter that the likes of Bommai will raise the voice and matter and talk about it this way,“ he added, saying that this was a seventy year old issue and people in the region were being subject to injustice and atrocities.

Bommai, on the other hand, dismissed Raut’s statements saying “Everyone knows what importance Raut holds. He is known to make such provocative statements.”

He added that the matter is in the Supreme Court and Karnataka’s stand is constitutionally right, and will also be strongly argued before the apex court.

On Maharashtra leaders’ comments regarding release of river water in the backdrop of the border issue, Bommai stressed on the need to refrain from making such statements, as all issues pertaining to inter-state rivers are governed by the Inter-State Water Disputes act.