Former Minister M.B. Patil, who was part of the Lingayat movement for independent religion status, is very angry with his former Cabinet colleague D.K. Shivakumar for his ‘apology’ over the issue.
Excerpts from his interview with The Hindu:
Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said the previous government made a mistake by interfering in the Lingayat issue. He has also apologised for it. Is this the Congress’ stand?
No, it is his personal opinion. He is not an office-bearer of either the All-India Congress Committee or the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. No one has authorised him to speak on behalf of the Congress. He made this statement at a function attended by the seer of Rambhapuri Peetha, who openly supported BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa for the post of Chief Minister. Mr. Shivakumar has disgraced the party with this act. The fact is that the Congress government never interfered; it just acted on an application from the community members and subsequently made a recommendation to the Centre.
Are you going to raise this matter at the party forum?
Definitely. The party will take a decision on the issue. He was part of the government. It was a unanimous decision and if he had any objection, he should have expressed it then. He should have either walked out of the Cabinet meeting or resigned. Now, after over six months, putting the blame on a community is not right. It is a statement issued to please a seer who openly canvassed against the Congress.
But he has apologised for the “government’s mistake”.
Who is Mr. Shivakumar to apologise on behalf of the previous government? If it was Siddaramaiah, then it would have been different. Instead of speaking on the Lingayat issue, Mr. Shivakumar should speak on how many seats he, as a Vokkaliga leader, has been able to ensure for the party in the Old Mysore region, barring those of himself and his brother. What happened in the coastal region, where the Lingayat population is minimal? Mr. Shivakumar should introspect on this and come out with his analysis. If at all he has to apologise, he should apologise for not winning over the Vokkaliga community.