Members of the Akhil Bharat Lingayat Panchamsali Samaj staging protest demanding 2A reservation for community in Belagavi. Basav Jaymritunjay Swamiji of Panchamsali Peetha, Kudalsangam, MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and others are also seen.
Credit: DH File Photo
Belagavi: Basav Jaymritunjay Swamiji of Panchamsali Peetha, Kudalsangam dared Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to sack Laxmi Hebbalkar, Minister for Women and Child Welfare, from his cabinet and disqualify MLAs Babasaheb Patil, Bharamgouda (Raju) Kage, MLC Channaraj Hattiholi and other Congress lawmakers who had participated in the protests demanding 2A reservation for Lingayat Panchamsali community if the demand was 'unconstitutional'.
"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by terming the 2A reservation demand as unconstitutional has also insulted Lingayat community. We condemn the statement of Siddaramaiah made in the legislature and demand that he withdraws it. Chief minister talks of constitution, democracy and social justice all the time. Siddaramaiah was himself a lawyer and if our demand was unconstitutional, why did he allow then party MLAs to protest with us since 2020 and also held meetings with us on assuming office," he asked.
The seer told reporters here on Saturday that the Lingayat Panchamsali community has been demanding its constitutional right. "We respect laws. The (Lingayat) community also stood by Dr B R Ambedkar. Community member Siddappa Kambli as the education minister, in the erstwhile princely state of Mumbai, had supported the architect of constitution," he said.
He added, "Siddaramaiah by his words has shown that he does not have any concern for the community. If he feels embarrassed by the movement, he should clarify that reservation will not be given. Lathi charge on our community members appears to have been premeditated."
He said that Lingayat Panchamsali community members will explore ways to get their 2A reservation demand met by ' going to the people'. "Siddaramaiah had one point had announced Lord Basaweshwar as cultural leader - this had made us feel proud of him, but now he has insulted the followers of the social reformers by terming their demand as 'unconstitutional'," he said.
The seer vowed that a reservation movement would be fought on the lines of Rani Channamma, who fought against the British, and will henceforth be known as the 'Lingayat Panchamsali Revolutionary Movement'.
Community members from different parts of the state will stage sit-in protest in the premises of Deputy Commissioners office from December 16, from 10 am to 6 pm, until the end of the legislature session here, condemning the chief minister's remarks and the use of police lathi charge to quell protests. They will also demand the suspension of police officials involved in ordering the lathi charge.
The seer also targeted Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar, who made the statement that they 'cannot kiss 10,000 persons' when they come to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhan Soudha and that the lathi charge order was 'inevitable'.
"He has betrayed the Lingayat community. He availed his education and hostel facilities from Siddaganga Mutt, but his words against the Lingayat community have insulted and betrayed those who fed him. Lingayats from Koratgere assembly constituency will protest against him," the seer stated.