Panchamasali quota ‘pressure’ is unconstitutional: CM Siddaramaiah

Belagavi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday virtually ruled out hiking reservation for the Panchamasali Lingayat community by describing their demand as “unconstitutional”.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Siddaramaiah even said that the Panchamasalis are not “demanding” but “pressurising” the government. “What you are demanding is against Article 340 of the Constitution,” he said.

At present, the Panchamasalis -- they claim to be the largest sub-caste of the Lingayats -- come under OBC Category 3B with a 5 per cent reservation. They want to be moved to Category 2A, which has 15 per cent reservation.

Siddaramaiah said he had told Panchamasali seer Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami about the situation. “I discussed with the seer twice and told him that the demand is unconstitutional and the decision of the previous government was also unconstitutional,” he said. “Protesting is not wrong, but demanding something against the Constitution is not right,” he added.

The Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government scrapped 4 per cent reservation for Muslims and distributed it equally among Vokkaligas and Lingayats. The Vokkaligas from Category 3A and Lingayats from 3B were moved to a new Category 2C and 2D, respectively. Vokkaliga reservation rose to 6 per cent and Lingayats to 7 per cent, up from 4 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.

“Why was this decision taken? Was it to appease the Panchamasalis or instigate Muslims?” Siddaramaiah said.

The CM pointed to an affidavit filed before the high court when the BJP was in power, stating that the government will “not touch reservation provided to Category 2A until further orders”.

Siddaramaiah went on to blame BJP’s Lingayat leaders for “instigating” the community. This led to a din with BJP members taking exception.

In the Assembly, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said his government’s “hands are tied” because of the decision taken by the Bommai administration.

Panchamasali Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar urged his party’s government to obtain a report from the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes in the next six months to decide on the community’s reservation demand, suggesting that there is nothing that can be done right now.