Belagavi-Belgaum border dispute: Recent row between Maharashtra and Karnataka explained

Belagavi (previously Belgaum) has once again been the epicentre of the decades-long linguistic and territorial dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra. The escalation came when a bus conductor and driver from Karnataka were allegedly beaten for not speaking Marathi, reigniting tensions that had existed since the 1960s.
In revenge for the Belagavi incident, a Maharashtra bus driver was also attacked in Karnataka, raising political tensions.

In Belagavi district, a group of commuters attacked Mahadev Hukkeri, a conductor with the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and a bus driver amid a furious linguistic quarrel about tickets. The conductor was assaulted and mistreated during the incident, which was caught on camera. Slogans like “Jai Maharashtra” and “Maharashtra Navnirman Sena” were also scrawled on a bus owned by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in Maharashtra.
When Bhaskar Jadhav, a driver for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was attacked and had his face blackened by unidentified assailants in the Chitradurga region of Karnataka, the situation became even more tense. This attack was perceived as a kind of revenge after the Belagavi incident.

The Belagavi border dispute is a long-standing conflict between the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The root of this dispute can be found in historical, linguistic and political intricacies. The dispute has persisted since the reorganization of the state in 1956. Despite multiple attempts at resolution, tensions continue to flare between the two states. The dispute often leads to political confrontations and protests. This report tries to provide an overall account of the dispute, its origins, legal aspects, political implications, and the current scenario.

The origins of the dispute can be traced back to the colonial era when Belagavi (formerly Belgaum) was part of the Bombay Presidency under British rule. However, post-independence, with the reorganization of states based on linguistic lines under the States Reorganization Act, 1956, Belagavi was incorporated into Karnataka (then Mysore State). Despite Belagavi having a significant Marathi-speaking population, it was merged with the Mysore State (now Karnataka) based on the 1881 census, which showed 64.39% Kannada speakers and 26.04% Marathi speakers. Maharashtra, asserting its claim over Belagavi and surrounding Marathi-speaking regions, strongly opposed this decision, leading to the birth of the border dispute.

In response to Maharashtra’s demands, the central government established the Mahajan Commission in 1966 under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan. The commission recommended that 247 villages be transferred to Maharashtra, while 264 villages remain in Karnataka. However, Belagavi city and surrounding areas were to remain with Karnataka. Maharashtra rejected the report as unfair and continued to press for the inclusion of Marathi-speaking areas into its jurisdiction, further fueling the dispute.

The dispute has frequently been brought before constitutional and legal institutions, including the Supreme Court of India. Maharashtra has always maintained that the cultural and linguistic desires of the Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi must be recognized, and the territorial demarcation needs to be reassessed. Karnataka, however, insists that the issue was settled with the passing of the States Reorganization Act, and re-evaluation would create a precedent for similar claims throughout the nation.

Maharashtra has made several petitions and appeals to the central government over the years, requesting that the areas in dispute be reallocated to it. Karnataka responded by fortifying its administrative and cultural control of Belagavi, even going so far as to declare it as the state’s second capital and building the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, the legislative complex, to reinforce its control.

The Belagavi dispute has not been a political issue in both Maharashtra and Karnataka but also a linguistic and social issue. It has often influenced electoral politics and regional sentiments. Political parties in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and other pro-Marathi organizations, have used the issue to consolidate their voter base, demanding a merger of Belagavi with Maharashtra. Similarly, in Karnataka, political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress, and Janata Dal (Secular) have taken a strong stand in defense of Karnataka’s territorial integrity.

A number of Maharashtra’s political leaders, even former Chief Ministers, have spoken in favour of the Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi and demanded central government intervention. The leaders in Karnataka, however, have rejected any compromise on the issue and have said that Belagavi is a part of Karnataka. The conflict has also led to periodic confrontations between pro-Kannada and pro-Marathi activists, causing law-and-order issues that the government needs to step in.

The dispute has greatly impacted the local community, particularly those living in the border areas. Marathi-speaking inhabitants of Belagavi and its surroundings have long complained about the protection of their language, culture, and administrative rights. They have demanded increased recognition of Marathi in government offices, schools, and public administration. On the other hand, Kannada organizations have rebutted such requests, claiming that Belagavi is historically and culturally a part of Karnataka.

This linguistic divide has created tensions between communities, at times causing violence, protests, and disruptions to daily life. The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), a movement pushing for Belagavi’s integration into Maharashtra, has been spearheading this movement, staging protests, strikes, and legal challenges. Pro-Kannada groups such as the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike have strongly resisted any move to alter the status quo, further fueling the conflict.

The central government has often been called upon to mediate in the dispute, but it has largely maintained a neutral stance, advising both states to resolve the issue amicably. The matter has also been taken to the Supreme Court, where Maharashtra has challenged Karnataka’s jurisdiction over Belagavi. However, given the complexity and political sensitivity of the issue, the Supreme Court has yet to deliver a conclusive judgment.

Successive Union governments have avoided a clear stand on the issue, invoking the threat of similar disputes cropping up in other regions. The border dispute has thus not been resolved, with both the states holding onto their respective positions and periodically sparring with political oratory and administrative measures.

In recent years, the dispute has continued to be a point of contention, with both states reiterating their claims. Karnataka has taken several measures to strengthen its hold over Belagavi, including renaming roads and government buildings with Kannada names and promoting Kannada culture in the region. Maharashtra has continued to extend political and moral support to Marathi-speaking residents, urging the central government to reconsider the territorial demarcation.

The issue flared up again in 2022 and 2023 when political leaders of both states issued provocative statements, and protests and increased tensions along the border followed. Maharashtra Chief Ministers have always reassured Marathi-speaking individuals in Belagavi of their determination to the cause, whereas Karnataka Chief Ministers have ruled out any chance of border modifications.

The Belagavi border dispute continues to be India’s most contentious interstate territorial dispute. Based on historical and linguistic differences, it has had wide-ranging political, legal, and social consequences. Despite various commissions, legal battles, and political interventions, a resolution remains elusive. The dispute continues to evoke strong emotions on both sides, with Maharashtra advocating for the inclusion of Marathi-speaking regions and Karnataka firmly asserting its jurisdiction over Belagavi. Unless a mutually agreeable solution is found through political dialogue and constitutional mechanisms, the dispute is likely to persist, affecting the lives of residents and the broader political landscape of both states.