I have stayed very near to Belgaum.I know its beautiful place and a great town.However it has been controversial since states were formed by Congress on linguistic basis.Congress kept Marathi majoriy Belgaum in Karnataka and there started its agony of backwardness.If you travel in nearing districts of Maharastra like Sangli,Kolhapur,you will see the difference. People in Belgaum have tried to vote their minds clearly toward merging it in Maharashtra due to various cultural,social and economic reasons however Karnataka government in interested more in politicizing it more than solving it.It has been forcing people in Belgaum to use Kannada although you see many not falling for that force.In fact Karnataka govt has tried to convert its name to Belgavi by force even when the matter is judicial and center has denied the change.On the other hand,Maharashtra govt seems to be little willing to take a stride and go hard about it...in between are poor people of Belgaum district who are facing the issues of underdevelopment.God only knows when this issue will be solved.
