Parallel Lingayat meet hinted

Conference will counter Veerashaiva sammelan held in Suttur, says Yatnal

The meet will be a parallel conference to one held at Suttur mutt early this year, he said.
“We will hold a parallel conference in north Karnataka after the monsoon season is over. A committee will chalk out plans and oversee the organising of a big rally,” he told reporters on Thursday.

He accused the All India Veerashaiva Sammelana and a conference of Veerashaiva mutts held in Suttur of supporting a ‘corrupt’ Chief Minister like B S Yeddyurappa. “The rally stood for protecting interests of Yeddyurappa. Suttur mutt has become a custodian of Yeddyurappa, while mutt seer Shivarathri Deshikendra has strongly stood for the support of the chief minister.

“I am unable to decipher why the mutt has strong bonding with Yeddyurappa. Mutt seers should not be biased for a single community or caste. Yeddyurappa cannot cling to power for lifetime. The seer must understand that he has to face chief ministers from other communites in future. Future chief ministers might not like the stand the mutt adopted during this period,” Yatnal remarked.

He also criticised Pejawar mutt seer Vishweshatheertha and Rambhapuri seer for supporting Yeddyurappa. Pejawar mutt seer has become mouthpiece for the BJP and CM Yeddyurappa, he said.

“The seers who should criticise and snub the chief minister for his corruption are supporting him. Instead, they should be giving some lessons on clean administration,” JD(S) leader ridiculed and added that Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court has branded Karnataka as most corrupt state.

He took a dig at Yeddyurappa, housing minister Somanna and exercise minister Renukacharya saying that both visit Siddaganga mutt whenever there is any trouble for the government to show that they have the backing of Siddanganga seer Shivakumara Swamy. The CM should not be in illusion that people of community would support him despite his wrongdoings and corrupt acts.

Mahadev slams

Later, addressing a meeting of JD(S) workers, former minister M Mahadev accused chief minister of paying money to mutts and appointed the heir apparent there. “Instead of being a chief minister, Yeddyurappa should become administrative officer for mutts.”
District JD(S) president Chikkamadu, former minister M Shivanna, ZP president Sunitha Veerappa Gowda, corporator Sandesh Swamy, deputy mayor G K Ravikumar and MDCC bank president C Basavegowda were present.