BELAGAVI
Linguistic tension has erupted in Belgaum and border areas, as activists from either side smeared the buses of Maharashtra and Karnataka with black slogans.
Both states suspended bus services after tension escalated on the border, following a spat between Karnataka and Maharashtra governments over the issue of boundary dispute for the past few days.
A group of pro-Maharashtra activists from Aurangabad, Maharashtra, allegedly wrote Marathi slogans on Karnataka government buses.
Soon after the photos of activists halting Karnataka buses and writing slogans went viral on social media, authorities in Maharashtra immediately suspended the movement of at least 300 buses from various parts of Maharashtra to Belagavi region, according to sources.
A decision has been taken to stop bus services from Maharashtra to Belagavi to avoid local activists painting the Maharashtra buses with black colour, sources said.
A large number of buses from various parts of Belagavi including Chikkodi, Nipani, Raibag, Athani, ply on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, police officials from Belagavi have appealed to Kannada activists against taking any decision to write or paint on Maharashtra buses. All precautionary measures are being taken to avoid escalation of tensions on the border over the boundary dispute issue.
