The longstanding and sensitive interstate border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra has flared up once again, casting a shadow over Belagavi district. Political and linguistic divisions have come sharply into focus, triggering a fresh wave of tension and protests.
Privilege Motion Ignites Fresh Confrontation
The latest flashpoint emerged when Hatkanangale MP Dhairyasheel Mane from Maharashtra moved a breach of privilege motion against Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan. The MP alleged that he was deliberately prevented from entering Karnataka to participate in the 'Black Day' observance held on November 1. Mane formally submitted his complaint to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on December 20.
In a swift countermove, Belagavi MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar announced he would present a counter memorandum to the Speaker. Shettar stated his intention to meet Om Birla and urge him not to initiate any action against the Deputy Commissioner based on the complaint. This announcement has significantly intensified the confrontation surrounding the volatile border issue.
Protests and Counter-Statements Escalate Tensions
The political manoeuvring was quickly mirrored by action on the ground. Activists from both factions of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, led by Narayana Gowda and Shivarame Gowda, staged a protest in Belagavi on Monday. They condemned the Maharashtra MP's complaint against the district official. In a symbolic act of defiance, effigies of MP Dhairyasheel Mane were burned during the demonstrations.
Adding to the chorus of opposition, senior Kannada activist Ashok Chandaragi wrote a letter to Speaker Om Birla, formally opposing the privilege motion. These actions were a direct response to representations made by various Kannada organisations in the region.
MES Alleges Suppression of Rights
Reacting strongly to the protests by Kannada groups, Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) youth leader Shubham Shelke levelled serious allegations. Shelke claimed that the Karnataka government has been consistently suppressing the constitutional rights of Marathi-speaking people living in the border areas by restricting their activities. He specifically condemned the protests by Kannada activists and the burning of the MP's effigy.
With protests, statements, and counter-statements flying between MES leaders and Kannada organisations, Belagavi finds itself plunged into another phase of acute linguistic and regional tension. The real-world impact of this dispute was felt earlier this month when bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra were suspended for two days. This suspension was a direct result of the unrest linked to the November 1 observances, highlighting how quickly administrative and political spats can disrupt daily life for citizens.
The decades-old Belagavi border dispute thus remains a potent and unresolved issue, capable of reigniting conflict at the slightest provocation, keeping the region in a state of perpetual unease.
