Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has come under intense criticism from opposition parties, the BJP and JD(S), following her recent remarks on the historical status of Belagavi. Speaking at a Kannada litterateurs meet, Hebbalkar claimed that Belagavi was part of Maharashtra before Independence, leading to strong condemnation.
State BJP President B Y Vijayendra has called for Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s immediate removal from the state cabinet, denouncing her comments as a political tactic to stir tension ahead of elections. He emphasized the importance of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah taking swift action to safeguard Karnataka’s sovereignty and linguistic harmony.
Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy joined the criticism, suggesting that Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s lingering affinity for Maharashtra is evident. Kumaraswamy called upon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to promptly address the issue and urged responsible individuals to refrain from making statements that could spark controversy.
Leader of the opposition in the Karnataka assembly, R Ashoka, accused Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar of engaging in vote bank politics and exacerbating the border row during a period of heightened agitation. He expressed concern that her statement could escalate tensions amid the ongoing dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra over Belagavi.
The historical border dispute dates back to 1957 when states were reorganized along linguistic lines. Maharashtra claimed Belagavi, citing a significant Marathi-speaking population, and sought control over more than 800 Marathi-speaking villages currently part of Karnataka. Karnataka contends that the demarcation based on linguistic lines, as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report, is final. The controversy resurfaces as historical claims over Belagavi intensify between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
