Belagavi is a closed chapter

There are historic tangles which slowly but eventually get settled over the course of time and there may even arise a juncture when the people or populations concerned may not even remember that such a ‘dispute’ ever existed.

The Belagavi dispute is no doubt one of those rows between two neighbouring states - Karnataka and Maharashtra - which has seen an easing of passions over a period of 50-60 years ever since the reorganisation of states was carried out on linguistic basis in 1956.

So one can’t help wondering why a Karnataka minister like Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is no novice in state politics, had to make a statement that Belagavi was a part of Maharashtra before Independence and people were living in harmony.

Her remark, made at a meet in Belagavi on Sunday, has ruffled feathers with the Opposition BJP calling for her sacking dubbing her statement ‘anti-Kannada’ and pro-Kannada activists hitting the streets on Tuesday in protest.

Passions have boiled over several times in the past over Belagavi with the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) leading the campaign for merger of some ‘Marathispeaking’ areas in Karnataka with Maharashtra.

They have faced stiff resistance from pro-Kannada organisations who aver that the controversy is a closed chapter with the State Reorganisation Act allotting Belagavi to Karnataka.

This was again vindicated by the Mahajan Commission, which in its report clearly stated that Belagavi should be part of Karnataka.

The MES obviously has its reasons to keep the pot boiling on the Belagavi issue for its survival is intrinsically linked to the inter-state border row.

Every year during the time Karnataka celebrates its Rajyotsava or formation day with grandeur, there are subtle attempts by the Marathi outfit which incidentally also has the support of some leaders in Maharashtra, to disturb peace in the border city for their own political ends.

What is however abundantly clear is that national parties - the Indian National Congress or the BJP - have always steered clear of such attempts while taking an unambiguous stance that efforts to create a divide should not be encouraged at any cost.

There is also the undeniable fact that the MES has been fast losing public support in recent years - the outfit contested six seats in the May, 2023 Assembly elections and lost in all of them.

This was in sharp contrast to its poll performance in earlier elections when it would win a handful of seats; it had even won the Belagavi City Corporation elections some time ago.

In an India where inter-state barriers are fast disappearing and our cities and towns are becoming multi-cultural and multi-ethnic hubs, there is nothing more inappropriate than raking up an inter-state dispute which was well settled many decades ago.

There may be some organisations eager to pander to such chauvinistic sentiments to ensure that their political interests are protected but their fortunes are on the ebb going by recent electoral trends.

And they should not be in any manner be encouraged to spread their divisive ideology at a time when harmony and unity are most needed.

Hebbalkar has subsequently issued a clarification making it abundantly clear that she is a proud Kannadiga and so the issue should be allowed to rest at that.

Beautiful Belagavi, known for its haunting waterfalls, ancient shrines and historic forts, has enough issues to focus on including its development as an educational and trading hub.

And so why waste time and energy on a vexed issue which would only serve to inflame passions and divert attention from the more urgent goal of social and economic progress?