Victory for Karnataka over Belgaum issue

Bangalore, Jul 8: After a long struggle by the Kannadigas, finally the UPA government told the Supreme court that Belgaum should stay with Karnataka, but not with the Maharashtra, on Wednesday, Jul 7.

Six year old claim of Maharashtra's government for Belgaum which is the second capital of Karnataka, was shut down when the UPA government said "Belgaum, where the majority population speaks Marathi, should stay with Karnataka."

"The Maharashtra ministers who have been regularly visiting Belgaum to disturb the harmony of Kannadigas and Marathis have been given a good reply, centre has now put an end to this dispute," said Karnataka CM, BS Yeddyurappa.

When the Maharashtra government filled a suit in the apex court seeking amendment to the State Reorganisation Act 1956, and Bombay Reorganisation Act 1960, had heightened tension between Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Later in Sep 2006, the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had held a special assembly session, which had quickly moved an application in the apex court seeking imposition of Central rule in the contentious area.

“It is a slap on the face of Maharashtra leaders who have been stoking fires of linguistic hatred between Marathi and Kannada speaking people in the border areas of Karnataka," said JD(S) leader HD Revanna.

The Belgaum (Belgavi) border dispute is a dispute involving the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Belgaum, currently a part of Karnataka and earlier was the part of Bombay Presidency. Belgaum was claimed by Maharashtra on linguistic grounds as the majority population speaks Marathi there.

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