Panchamasali meet today, govt may heed demand in Belagavi

BELAGAVI: A large number of the Panchamasali Lingayat community members will assemble in Belagavi on Thursday to push for inclusion in the 2A reservation category.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is expected to take part in the mega convention, Panchashakti Virat Samavesha, at Bastwad, 2km from Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and make the announcement. “We have faith in the government. Certainly, our reservation will be enhanced. Bommai will make a historic announcement,” said former Union minister and Vijayapura BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.

Speculation is rife that the government may heed to the demand since a cabinet meeting is also scheduled for Thursday ahead of the convention. Panchamasalis are a sub-sect of the Lingayats, who are seen as the BJP’s core support base, and they form a majority among the Lingayat community. At present, the Veerashaiva-Lingayats get 5% reservation under category 3B. Panchamasalis are demanding that they be moved to category 2A which has 15% reservation for 102 castes.
With five months to go for polls, the government is under pressure to fulfil their demand by rejigging the existing OBC reservation.
“If Bommai announces 2A reservation to the community, we will felicitate him with ‘tulabhara’ of sugar, a green shawl and yellow peta. If not, about 20–25 lakh people will lay siege to Suvarana Soudha. We hope that the CM will not deceive us like his predecessor BS Yediyurappa did, though he had given us assurance four times,” said Basava Jaya Mrutyunjay Swami of Panchamsali Peetha, Kudal Sangama.
The seer, who is undertaking a padayatra from Bailhongal to Belagavi, will reach the venue on Thursday at 11am. Additional director general of police (ADGP) Alok Kumar visited the protest site and reviewed the security arrangements.