Panchamasali seer launches stir for quota in Bengaluru

The seer decided to launch a fast unto death agitation if the demands of the community were not met

Pressure mounted on the B S Yediyurappa government after Panchamasali seer Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami was forced to continue the agitation demanding 2A reservation for the community.

The seer, following a massive Panchamasali convention in the city on Sunday, decided to continue the dharna till March 4 at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, and launch a fast unto death agitation if the demands of the community were not met by then.

The seer appeared to have been caught in two minds at the end of the convention after pleas by ministers C C Patil and Murugesh Nirani to withdraw the protest. The gathering, however, was hostile to any suggestions of ending the agitation, and backed BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal's demand to continue the agitation until their demands are met.

Unhappy with the decision, C C Patil stormed off the stage at the venue. Both Patil and Nirani, along with other BJP legislators of the Panchamasali community, are scheduled to address a media briefing on Monday. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa did not respond to comments on the issue.

Also Read | Panchamasali seer forced to continue agitation; Karnataka Minister CC Patil storms off stage as crowd backs Yatnal

Earlier, at the rain-interrupted convention, Yatnal had continued his salvo against Yediyurappa, setting the end of the upcoming Budget session as the deadline to include the Panchamasali community under 2A reservation category. Warning of repercussions from a united Lingayat community, he urged Patil and Nirani to resign as ministers if Yediyurappa did not accord the status.

Speeches of ministers Patil and Nirani, which argued the state government's case, were interrupted and jeered by the crowd. Patil had noted that it was the Yediyurappa government who included Panchamasalis under 3B, and has ordered a study from the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission to further the cause. Seers had to step in several times during the ministers' speeches to silence the crowd and allow them to express their views.

At the end of the convention, which was the culmination of a padayatra launched by Jaya Mruthyunjaya seer over the issue, he decided to take out a March to Vidhana Soudha.

There were several tense moments during the march and the police barricaded entry points from Palace Grounds towards the administrative centre. They were finally persuaded to move towards Freedom Park. Security was beefed around Vidhana Soudha during the unscheduled march.