Language row rears its ugly head in Karnataka again, sparks tension with Maharashtra

Language issue reared up its ugly head in Karnataka, this time over Marathi, sparking off an inter-state row between Karnataka and Maharashtra.

- LAKSHMANA VENKAT KUCHI

Tension escalated in Belagavi after a group of Marathi-speaking miscreants thrashed a KSRTC bus conductor for not being able to speak to them in Marathi. Although the bus was operating in Karnataka, this border region of Belagavi has many Marathi speakers.

The incident that resulted in the conductor being beaten black and blue, in which four persons have been arrested as well, sparked off an intense and emotional fight between Kannada activists, and the Karnataka government that has come down heavily against any violent actions in the name of language fanaticism.

With protests raging on in border areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra, and reports of violence against Karnataka state-run buses in neighboring state, for the present state-run bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra have been halted.