Federal Government refuses to allow renaming of Belgaum

The Federal Government has refused Karnataka permission to rename its border district Belgaum as Belagavi.

Disclosing this to reporters, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the Federal Government has, however, cleared the State Government’s proposal to rename 11 other cities of the State including Bangalore.

Out of the 12 cities in Karnataka, which were proposed to be renamed, the Federal Government had accorded permission to rename 11 cities, except Belgaum. “I don’t know on what grounds the Federal Government has rejected our proposal to rename Belgaum district”, Kumaraswamy said.

Though Karnataka Government had planned to rename Belgaum as Belagavi, officials said the Federal Government had denied permission for the same in the wake of the unresolved boundary dispute between Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra over Belgaum.

The Maharashtra Government too had opposed Karnataka’s move to rename Belgaum as Belagavi, claiming that it would hurt the sentiments of the large number of Marathis residing in the Belgaum.

However, Kumarasamy said the Federal Government’s approval for renaming of the 11 cities will be placed before the state cabinet shortly and a gazette notification will follow.
Apart from Bangalore, which will be renamed as Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Gulbarga, Hubli, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Bellary, Bijapur, Hospet and Tumkur will be renamed as Mysuru, Mangalooru, Kalburgi, Hubbali, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Ballary, Vijapura, Hosapete and Tumakuru respectively.