Panchamasali convention hijacked by vested interests, allege ministers

Accusing a few leaders of ‘hijacking’ the Panchamasali Lingayat agitation demanding Category 2A reservation, ministers CC Patil and Murugesh Nirani, who belong to the community, urged seer Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami to withdraw his protest.

Patil and Nirani criticised BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and former Congress MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar for misusing the community to further their political interests. The ministers assured that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa would fulfill the demands of the community in due time.

"Yatnal is acting like the 'B' team of Congress. This does not augur well for him," Nirani, the mines & geology minister said, daring Yatnal to resign from BJP and seek re-election.

Attacking Yatnal in the singular, Nirani said that it was due to Yediyurappa's blessings that he could become a Union Minister. "You should resign and seek re-election as an independent," he said, retorting to the MLA’s demand seeking the resignation of two ministers from the community if the state failed to fulfill Panchamasali demands.

Patil, the small scale industries minister, said that the decision to continue the agitation was unilateral. It was decided to end the campaign after the massive convention, he said, adding that Jaya Mrutyunjaya seer was easily swayed by Kashappanavar. "In the end, the seer went with one or two people," he said, adding that the seer did not consult all leaders from the community before taking the call.