The Karnataka government has issued an order to arrest Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil for creating enmity between people of the two states through an alleged hate speech delivered in Belgaum on April 7.
An FIR has been registered at Market Police Station in Belgaum under IPC section 153-A and Patil has been charged with promoting enmity between groups of different religions, races, places of birth, residences, languages, etc.
Karnataka and Maharashtra have a long-standing dispute over 857 border villages.
Patil, who is in his home town Sangli in Western Maharashtra, said, "I have not made any provocative speech, nor did I address any rally to incite mob.
"I said injustice to Marathi people staying along the borders will not be tolerated. Marathi people who are ill-treated in border villages deserve proper treatment. They deserve freedom and dignity. It was a general speech I always make when talking about Belgaum.
"I don't know why such extreme stand has been taken by the Karnataka government. I will look into the matter tomorrow and see what needs to be done after consulting my colleagues in state."
Patil had gone to Belgaum on April 7 for a function organised by 'Tarun Bharat' editor Kiran Thakur.
Thakur, who is based in Belgaum, leads Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti that champions the cause of Marathis living along the state borders.