Maharashtra-Karnataka Bus Services Row: Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik Considers Deploying Security Marshals In MSRTC Buses

Mumbai: Days after the Maharashtra government ordered the suspension of MSRTC buses to Karnataka following an alleged attack on a vehicle of the undertaking and its driver in Chitradurga on Friday night, reportedly by pro-Kannada activists, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday that they were considering deploying security marshals or police personnel in state transport buses traveling to the neighboring state.

The tensions in Belagavi increased after a group of people allegedly assaulted the conductor and driver of a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus for not speaking to a passenger in Marathi.

The issue further snowballed into a major controversy when buses and their crews from both states engaged in assaults and fights over their respective languages. Meanwhile, the mother of the girl involved in the incident appealed to the people of both states not to blow the situation out of proportion.

The mother stated, “The incident had taken place when my son and daughter went to the hospital after getting a ticket. The conductor had used bad language. We love the Kannada language and speak Marathi at home.”

“We are concerned and saddened that the issue has snowballed into a crisis situation between two states and an issue of tussle over language. We apologise if we have made any mistake. Those who are involved in the assault have been jailed. The matter should end here. It was a scuffle over the ticket. We are withdrawing the case,” the mother stated.

Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin, reacting to the development stated in Belagavi that the investigating officer in the case has been changed and the case is handed over to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

“I got the video from the mother of the victim. I will ask the ACP to look into the matter, record the statement in this regard and proceed in the case further,” Iada Martin stated. The bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra have been suspended following the attack.

Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy stated in Bengaluru, “I had gone to Belagavi on Monday and met the conductor at the hospital. I have also discussed the matter with the officers. No RTC buses from Karnataka are going to Maharashtra and none of the buses are coming into Karnataka from Maharashtra. Private buses are operating. We had 509 schedules and Maharashtra buses had 130 schedules. The public is affected by it."

Meanwhile, both factions of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) – TA Narayana Gowda and Praveen Shetty – staged demonstrations. Later, the pro-Kannada activists courted arrest. Gowda and Shetty separately met conductor Mahadevappa Hukkeri in the morning and assured him of all possible assistance.