In a recent escalation of the longstanding border dispute, drivers and conductors of state-run transport buses in Belagavi, located in Karnataka, were attacked over the weekend in an incident highlighting tensions between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The core of this conflict centers around Belagavi, a district with a substantial Marathi-speaking population and numerous villages straddling the border of the two states.
This territorial dispute traces back to 1956, when India’s states were reorganized based on language, leading to a dispute that has endured for decades.
MAHARASHTRA’S ASSERTION OF CLAIMS
Following its formation in 1960, Maharashtra claimed ownership of 865 villages, including Belagavi, Nipani, and Karwar, arguing that these regions’ Marathi-speaking majority justified their inclusion in Maharashtra. However, Karnataka has staunchly opposed this claim.
The central government intervened in 1966, establishing the Mahajan Commission to mediate the conflict. Although the commission’s ruling favored Karnataka in relation to Belagavi, it proposed a compromise that entailed transferring 247 villages in Maharashtra to Karnataka while 264 villages from Karnataka would be ceded to Maharashtra. Maharashtra dismissed this proposal, asserting that its concerns were inadequately addressed.
In 2004, Maharashtra escalated the issue to the Supreme Court, where the matter remains unresolved. The central government reaffirmed in 2010 its support for the original boundary decisions made in 1956.
NEW HEIGHTS OF TENSION
The dispute has manifested in various forms over the years. Karnataka has symbolically cemented its claim by renaming Belgaum to Belagavi and constructing the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, a legislative building where governmental sessions are held, further considering it as a potential second capital.
This conflict transcends political divides, uniting various political parties in their respective stances. In recent times, the dispute has taken on new dimensions; for instance, in 2022, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister announced welfare initiatives in Belagavi and surrounding Marathi-speaking areas, prompting Karnataka’s Chief Minister to respond with grants for Kannada schools in Maharashtra.
In a striking move, Karnataka’s government has expressed intentions to claim additional villages in the border areas of Maharashtra, reflecting the escalating tensions between the two states even when both were under BJP governance.
The violent attacks related to this dispute underscore its volatility, with the recent incident involving bus conductors exemplifying the growing unrest.
On December 27, 2022, the Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed a resolution asserting that Belgaum and other Marathi-speaking regions in Karnataka are integral to Maharashtra. The resolution emphasized Maharashtra’s commitment to legally pursuing its claim in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Karnataka remains resolute in its position, resisting any modifications to the current borders.
