'Should we have kissed 10,000 protesters instead?': Parameshwara defends police action against Panchamasali stir

'The seers and agitators wanted the CM himself to come to them. We can’t have the CM going to every protest meeting,' Parameshwara said.

Belagavi: Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday sharply reacted to criticism over police action against agitators demanding a hike in reservation for Panchamasali Lingayats, saying the security forces had no option when thousands of people wanted to storm the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

“What were the police to do when 10,000 people wanted to enter the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha? Should we kiss them in? This is a responsible government. Can we let people do whatever they want?” Parameshwara said in a statement to the Assembly on the police action.

Parameshwara said Panchamasali seer Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami called for people to come to Belagavi in 5,000 tractors on December 10. “Allowing 5,000 tractors was ruled out. We allowed people to come in cruiser cars that can ferry 15-20 persons,” he said.

“Since the legislature session was underway, prohibitory orders were in place and Suvarna Vidhana Soudha was declared as a restricted area. A designated place was identified for the Panchamasali protest to take place,” Parameshwara said.

According to Parameshwara, ministers H C Mahadevappa, M C Sudhakar, K Venkatesh and Laxmi Hebbalkar were sent to meet the agitators.

"The ministers informed them that the CM is willing to meet a delegation. They didn’t respond positively. They wanted the CM himself to come to them. We can’t have the CM going to every protest meeting,” Parameshwara said.

“The seer then called upon people to head towards Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. Twenty tractors, despite restriction, moved towards police barricades. Stones were hurled at police personnel who tried to block the tractors. There’s evidence for this,” Parameshwara claimed even as Panchamasali BJP lawmakers like Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and CC Patil refuted the claim.

Parameshwara said the government cannot let people take law into their own hands.

“Is that what the Opposition is advising the government to do?” he said, adding that 24 police personnel were injured in stone-pelting.

Parameshwara countered LoP R Ashoka and Araga Jnanendra -- former home ministers -- to state what they would have done in the situation.

When Parameshwara said the police resorted to a 'restrained' lathicharge, BJP members again refuted him.

“The agitators were beaten mercilessly,” Jnanendra said.

To this, Parameshwara said: “Well, you know how a lathi is. It must be swung.”