Border Controversy Rises: Border dispute escalates, Maharashtra trucks stopped in Belagavi, Karnataka, stones pelted

The border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra has started taking a fierce form. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists pelted stones at trucks from Maharashtra during a protest at Bagewadi in Belagavi, Karnataka on Tuesday. In this case, the police have detained many activists. On the other hand, fearing tension, two ministers of Maharashtra canceled their visit to Belagavi. Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has said that the interests of the state and its people will be fully protected.

At Bagewadi, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists stopped trucks with Maharashtra number plates. A truck was pelted with stones. The workers also staged a protest on the highway. During this, the police took some into custody.

Do not disturb the harmony, the interests of the people of Karnataka will be protected: Bommai

Amid a growing border dispute with Maharashtra, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has asked the people of both states not to disturb the harmony. His government is committed to protecting the interests of Kannada speakers within the state's borders and in other states. Bommai said he was confident that Karnataka would emerge victorious in the legal battle over the border dispute as the state's stand was both legal and constitutional. We are confident that we will win the legal battle. So there is no question of making it an issue for the elections. We are determined to protect the state borders and the interests of our people and Kannada-speaking people living in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Kerala.

Karnataka elections not related to the border dispute

Bommai clarified that there is no connection between the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka and the border dispute. Maharashtra has been raising this issue for many years. As Maharashtra stirs controversy, a reaction comes from Karnataka. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said he would ask his Maharashtra counterpart Eknath Shinde to stop his cabinet colleagues from visiting Belagavi as their visit could affect the law and order situation in the border district.

Maharashtra ministers postpone belagavi yatra

CM Bommai's statement came amid reports that two ministers of Maharashtra's committee set up to coordinate the border dispute have postponed their Belagavi yatra scheduled for today. Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai along with Minister Chandrakant Patil informed about the postponement of his visit at the request of the Karnataka Government. He clarified that the yatra has not been canceled. The Karnataka government had requested to postpone the yatra citing the law and order situation. Both the ministers were to meet workers of the Maharashtra Integration Committee and hold talks with them on the decades-old border issue.

Also Read: Border Dispute: Won't let an inch of Maharashtra's land go anywhere, CM Shinde said on border dispute with Karnataka