Karnataka Minister Warns Aaditya Thackeray: Stay Out of Belagavi Dispute
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Belagavi (Karnataka), December 9 (NationPress) – In response to Maharashtra MLA Aaditya Thackeray's assertion that Belagavi should be designated a Union Territory (UT) until the ongoing dispute is resolved, Karnataka's Minister for Kannada and Culture, Shivaraj Tangadagi, advised the Maharashtra politician to stay out of the matter.
Aaditya Thackeray, the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the leader of the Shiv Sena-UBT's legislative party, urged the central government to grant UT status to Belagavi.
Speaking to reporters at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Monday, Minister Tangadagi declared, “If such statements persist regarding Belagavi, the residents of Karnataka will certainly voice their discontent.”
“On behalf of the state government, I wish to make it clear: do not attempt to revive the Belagavi issue again. Should you proceed, you will encounter the wrath of the Kannada people. This serves as a warning from our side,” Tangadagi stated, addressing Aaditya Thackeray.
Minister Tangadagi further remarked, “It seems that poor Aaditya Thackeray does not grasp the reasons behind the formation of Union Territories. Belagavi is home to a significant population of Kannada speakers. The Karnataka government has established the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here and conducts assembly sessions annually. It appears that Aaditya Thackeray lacks the requisite knowledge and comprehension.”
He pointed out that leaders from Maharashtra have made similar remarks for an extended period, yet separating Belagavi from Karnataka is an impossible task.
“It is inappropriate for Aaditya Thackeray to comment without a proper understanding of the facts. In my opinion, he should better educate himself,” Tangadagi added.
When asked about Thackeray's specific proposal for making Belagavi a Union Territory until a resolution is reached, Minister Tangadagi responded, “He should examine all the reports submitted thus far concerning the Belagavi dispute.”
“Upon reviewing the findings and recommendations of those reports, it will be evident that Belagavi undoubtedly belongs to Karnataka and remains a crucial part of the state. The idea of separating it is out of the question,” he concluded.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday boycotted the traditional address of the Governor to the joint session of the Maharashtra Legislature, following developments in Belagavi where the Karnataka government denied permission.
Aaditya claimed that the Marathi-speaking population in Belagavi is facing suppression. “Since Sunday, the situation in the area has worsened. Our party workers are being detained,” he stated.
The border town of Belagavi has been a part of Karnataka since the boundaries were drawn along linguistic lines under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. However, the inter-state border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra flares up periodically.
The Maharashtra government filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2004 challenging the State Reorganisation Act of 1956. It sought the merger of 865 villages and areas from five Karnataka districts with Maharashtra.
This dispute also led to the formation of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) in Belgaum, which was previously part of the Bombay Presidency. Karnataka subsequently renamed Belgaum to Belagavi and constructed a second legislature in the district.
