<p>Bengaluru: Former minister and BJP veteran B S Yediyurappa’s close aide M P Renukacharya on Thursday announced that there was no change in the plan to organise the Veerashiva-Lingayat Mahasamagama convention in Davangere. </p>.<p>He said the convention had nothing do with the party as it was an apolitical event to unite all sub-castes among Lingayats. Renukacharya told reporters that the convention was organised to discuss three core issues affecting the community. </p>.<p>“First, there are efforts by ‘bad elements’ in the community to divide Lingayats into sub-castes and emerge as leaders. Second, the government is in the process of accepting the caste census report. We need to unite, shedding sub-caste affiliations, to defeat the Congress’ efforts to legitimise the unscientific report, which is detrimental to the community.” Last, the convention would demand category ‘2A’ reservation status for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, he said. </p>.Veerashaiva-Lingayat convention will not benefit party: B Y Vijayendra.<p>“I have been asked by Yediyurappa and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra on many occasions not to organise the convention and stop going on a statewide tour to organise Lingayats. But my community problems are so big that I had to finally listen to my community’s demands,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The former CM and Vijayendra held a meeting with him in this regard on Wednesday. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Renukacharya said the rally had nothing to do with Yediyurappa or Vijayendra. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“All leaders from the community will attend this convention. Bijapur city MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who belongs to the community, is also invited,” he said. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Former minister and BJP veteran B S Yediyurappa’s close aide M P Renukacharya on Thursday announced that there was no change in the plan to organise the Veerashiva-Lingayat Mahasamagama convention in Davangere. </p>.<p>He said the convention had nothing do with the party as it was an apolitical event to unite all sub-castes among Lingayats. Renukacharya told reporters that the convention was organised to discuss three core issues affecting the community. </p>.<p>“First, there are efforts by ‘bad elements’ in the community to divide Lingayats into sub-castes and emerge as leaders. Second, the government is in the process of accepting the caste census report. We need to unite, shedding sub-caste affiliations, to defeat the Congress’ efforts to legitimise the unscientific report, which is detrimental to the community.” Last, the convention would demand category ‘2A’ reservation status for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, he said. </p>.Veerashaiva-Lingayat convention will not benefit party: B Y Vijayendra.<p>“I have been asked by Yediyurappa and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra on many occasions not to organise the convention and stop going on a statewide tour to organise Lingayats. But my community problems are so big that I had to finally listen to my community’s demands,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The former CM and Vijayendra held a meeting with him in this regard on Wednesday. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Renukacharya said the rally had nothing to do with Yediyurappa or Vijayendra. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“All leaders from the community will attend this convention. Bijapur city MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who belongs to the community, is also invited,” he said. </p>