Belagavi: Bus services between Maharashtra and Karnataka remained suspended on Monday as tensions escalated over a language dispute in Belagavi, triggering protests and retaliatory actions in both states.
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers defaced Karnataka state transport buses in Pune, further intensifying the standoff.
In response, the Maharashtra Transport Department suspended state transport bus services to Karnataka as a precautionary measure. Bus operations from Karnataka to Maharashtra were also halted, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Private bus services were significantly affected, with several operators cancelling or modifying routes due to the prevailing unrest.
The incident that triggered the row involved an alleged assault on a Karnataka bus conductor in Belagavi for not speaking Marathi.
In a parallel development, a minor filed a counter-complaint against the conductor, accusing him of misconduct.
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy defended the conductor, calling for restraint and urging authorities to conduct a fair probe.
Political leaders from both states waded into the controversy, with pro-Kannada and pro-Marathi groups staging demonstrations. The situation remains tense, with security forces deployed in sensitive areas to prevent further escalation.
