Last Update: February 21, 2023, 14:26 IST
The decision was taken at a meeting of the state executive at a private hotel in Bengaluru on February 16, in which leaders of the Panchamasli Lingayat community, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and other prominent members of the community were present. (News18 file)
The Panchamasali Lingayat community has set a deadline of March 15 for the BJP, after which they will take the matter to the people’s court in all 224 assembly constituencies of Karnataka.
Karnataka’s Panchamasali Lingayats – a sub-sect of the Lingayat community – have set a deadline of March 15 to provide reservation, failing which the priest of the Panchamasali Peeth, Jaya Mrityunjaya Swamy, who is leading the quota agitation, will temporarily Will formally stop the protest. Freedom Park in Bengaluru and take the matter to the people’s court in all 224 assembly constituencies before the state elections.
During Swamy’s visit, a word will be spread about how the BJP government has betrayed the Lingayat community by not providing reservation quota to them even after years of agitation, as promised by the party.
Interestingly, the group will also decide whether they will stand with the BJP before the upcoming assembly elections.
“Both the present CM and the former CM failed to respond and did not even sit with us to talk about this (reservation). If they don’t give us reservation, we will visit all 224 assembly constituencies and tell people how the government has cheated us on reservation. This information and truth will be told to our people. We will protest here till March 15, till then, if they give us 2A status, we will leave,” said Jaya Mrityunjaya Swamy.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the state executive at a private hotel in Bengaluru on February 16, in which leaders of the Panchamasli Lingayat community, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and other prominent members of the community were present.
The BJP, which enjoys the vote bank of Lingayats, has not been able to provide reservation quota to the Panchamasali Lingayats, to which the Congress said this is what they mean when they say ‘kiwi mele hova’ (flowers on the ears).
Congress spokesperson Priyank Kharge said, “The Panchamasali Lingayat community believed in the CM but now where is the 2A reservation for their community? This is what I mean when I say ‘kiwi mele hua’. He has put flowers on people’s ears. He promised a lot to the community but what has he done?”
Former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy alleged that it was CM Basavaraj Bommai who informed the community to protest for political gains, but has now cheated the community by not giving reservation quota.
“The CM himself asked the mutts to go for the protest. He only promised them about the reservation quota. Now they have gone back on their decision. But let’s see how people take it up during elections,” Kumaraswamy said.
Vokkaligas and Panchamasali are the two major communities who are in 3A and 3B categories and are demanding reservation under 2A status. The government had decided to abolish 3A and 3B categories. During the winter session in Belagavi in December, the government decided to create two new categories, 2C and 2D. Those who are in 3A and 3B will now get place in 2C and 2D. However, the Karnataka High Court had in January ordered an interim stay on the state government’s decision.
Panchamasali Lingayats constitute about 80% of the population and 17% of Karnataka’s Lingayats, who have traditionally been supporters of the BJP.
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