Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swamiji.
Credit: Facebook Photo/@basavajaya.mruthyunjayaswamiji
Mysuru: President of Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum K S Shivaramu accused Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami of Kudalasangama Lingayat Panchamasali Peetha of getting a ‘supari’ from BJP leaders, to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the champion of Ahinda communities.
During a round-table meeting, organised by the forum, in Mysuru, on Saturday, Shivaramu criticised Swami's statements against Siddaramaiah, while demanding the inclusion of the Lingayat Panchamasali community, under Backward Class 2A category.
He remarked that the Swami, who once praised Siddaramaiah, is now harboring animosity against him. “The BJP leaders attempted to unseat Siddaramaiah, by highlighting the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Maharshi Valmiki Corporation scandals, despite his innocence. When this failed, they allegedly instigated the Swami,” he said.
Shivaramu accused the Swami of conspiring, to incite a community against Siddaramaiah, following actions that are contrary to the Constitution and democracy, sowing the seeds of distrust and by spreading communal discord. “The Swami is speaking like a petty politician. If he does not restrain, we also can speak like him,” he said.
Shivaramu condemned the Swami's derogatory remarks against Siddaramaiah and asked is the Swami represents a single community or all people of the society. He argued that if the Swami identifies with just one caste, he is unfit to be a pontiff and is merely a pretender.
Ahinda leader Shivanna accused the Panchamasali Swami of plotting to tarnish the reputation of the government and Siddaramaiah, as part of a casteist conspiracy, to dethrone Siddaramaiah, and to create unrest under the guise of a demand for benefits.
He said, the Lingayat Panchamasali community's demand for backward class 2A reservation is unfortunate, as they are forward in economic, educational, political, and social progress.
Congress city (district) general secretary M Shivanna, Yogesh Uppar, S Ravinandan, Rajesh, Harish Moganna, Khaleem, Kempashetty, Sunil, Mallesh, Lingaraju, Devanna, Papanna, Krishnappa, Hucchegowda, Kote Shivanna, Somanna, Kantaraju, Rajashekar, Chandrappa, Vishwanath, Nanjunda, and Lakshmi attended the meeting.