BENGALURU: Braving the rain, thousands of Panchamasali Lingayats assembled at Palace Grounds here on Sunday in a show of strength against the BJP government, demanding 2A reservation status for the community. They issued CM BS Yediyurappa a March 4 deadline to ensure it.
While the community had planned to gherao Vidhana Soudha in the evening, it relented after Bengaluru police chief Kamal Pant urged the leaders to shift their protest to Freedom Park.
Led by Kudalasangama mutt seer Jayamruthyunjaya Swami and Harihar Panchamasali mutt seer Vachananda Swami, it was a gathering of primarily anti-Yediyurappa political leaders on the stage from both BJP and elsewhere.
Jayamruthyunjaya Swami said this is a culmination of the community's 40-year struggle to secure 2A reservation status for thousands of poor families seeking job security and better education.
Yatnal targets CM
He asked the government to keep its promise or face a backlash with a fast unto death by him and community leaders. “I’ve vowed not to return to my mutt till the government issues the reservation certificate,” he added. Later, MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said he wouldn’t cave in just because of a show-cause notice, referring to the BJP leadership. “If someone thinks they can shut me down, they will be forced to vacate their chair sooner than later,” he said.
He was again critical of Yediyurappa, telling him to shut his ‘natak company’. “When I asked about the reservation status, I was told to go to Delhi for clearance from the Centre. Why would I go to Delhi? This is very much in the CM’s hands. Stop this ‘natak’ company by claiming someone else has the keys to it,” he said.
“You have added your own castes and communities to the list,” he added.
Ministers CC Patil and Murugesh Nirani tried to assure the community that Yediyurappa would ensure the reservation status but needed time. “It shouldn’t be a situation in which other communities find legal loopholes and start demanding similar reservation,” Patil said.