Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar faced strong opposition following her recent remarks about Belagavi’s historical connection to Maharashtra before Independence. Hebbalkar, a native of Belagavi, made the comments during a Kannada litterateurs meet in Karadaga village.
The opposition parties criticized Hebbalkar’s statement, with State BJP President B Y Vijayendra accusing her of attempting to disturb Karnataka’s sovereignty and linguistic harmony. He called for her immediate dismissal from the state cabinet, labeling her remarks a political gimmick during the election season.
She expressed the shared history between Karnataka and Maharashtra before independence, emphasizing the cultural contributions of Kannada literature and the state’s pride in its eight Jnanpith awardees.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka also condemned the minister, with Kumaraswamy urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to address the issue. The ongoing border dispute over Belagavi between Karnataka and Maharashtra traces back to 1957, with Maharashtra laying claim to the region and over 800 Marathi-speaking villages.
Karnataka asserts the finality of the demarcation based on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report. The controversy resurfaces amid heightened tensions and political dynamics in the region.
