Panchamasali Peeth Drashta Basava Jai Mrityunjaya Swami has been leading Kudalsang. Campaign in Karnataka Seeking growth in reservations for your community over the years. His influence is considered strong among the Panchamasalis, a major sub-sect of the Lingayat community. The Panchamasalis claim that they constitute 70% of the Lingayat community, which is 17% of the population of Karnataka.
Earlier this week, a large number of Panchamasali protesters led by Mrityunjaya Swamy staged a massive protest in front of the Karnataka legislature complex in Belagavi over their demand to include Panchamasalis in 2A OBC. quota – which provides 15% reservation – instead of their existing 3B category with 5% quota. in them clash with the police, Some protesters and police were injured. The police crackdown rocked the assembly, with the BJP attacking the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for allegedly suppressing protests and refusing to meet Panchamasalis demands.
In an interview with The Indian ExpressMrityunjaya Swamy speaks at length on the issue, asserting that his community will not wait any longer for 2A category status. Excerpts:
* Why Panchamasali Lingayats have started this movement?
Panchamasali Lingayats are basically agriculturists. We are farmers. In Karnataka, the Permanent Backward Classes Commission included other agricultural Lingayat castes under category 2A, but we were excluded even though 95% of our community was agriculturists.
Moreover, our students and youth are not getting enough reservation pie as we are currently included in 3B category which provides only 5% reservation in government educational institutions and government jobs. If we are included in 2A category we will get a shot at 15% reservation.
* Why do you think Panchamasali Lingayats have not been given 2A category yet?
All the incoming Chief Ministers have included their communities in the 2A quota. For example, SR Bommai has included his community Sadar Lingayat in 2A category. BS Yeddyurappa included the Banjiga Lingayats in the 2A category. So far 32 subcastes of Lingayat have been included in this category. Similarly, we want to be included in 2A category.
*You are also demanding more political representation of the Panchamasali Lingayat Chief Minister?
Three Chief Ministers of Karnataka were Panchamasalis – S Nijalingappa, Virendra Patil and JH Patil. But during their time, the community was not mobilized and there was no demand for quota. After 1995 (post Mandal period) our community came together and said, “We are also farmers and we also need reservation according to our population size”.
But we no longer demand political representation at the highest level (Chief Minister). We have Panchamasali Lingayat leaders in various parties. We are born leaders. Our Rani Chennamma was the first freedom fighter of Karnataka. We have a rich tradition.
But right now our focus is on our youth, who are missing out on higher education and jobs. Our only demand is 2A class status.
* You have earlier demanded 2A category status during the BJP government led by BS Yeddyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai. Now, Siddaramaiah is at the helm as the Congress Chief Minister. What were the promises they made and they were not fulfilled?
CM Yeddyurappa promised 2A category when we agitated for reservation during his time. But soon after he resigned and Basavaraj Bommai became the Chief Minister. However, Bommai announced 2D category status (7% reservation) for Panchamasali Lingayats before the 2022 assembly elections. At the time, we could have supported him, but Siddaramaiah’s Congress promised us 2A category status.
Congress leaders were part of our movement and promised us that 2A reservation would be given “within 24 hours of government formation”. Hence, the Panchamasali Lingayats who supported the BJP voted for the Congress in the assembly elections. It was because of our votes that Siddaramaiah government was formed.
* What is your equation with the Congress government now?
The promises they (Congress leaders) made before the election were not fulfilled. So we are very dissatisfied with the government. We resumed the agitation by forming a legal cell with around 2,000 lawyers supporting our demand.
CM Siddaramaiah called me for a meeting, but did not assure that the community would be given 2A category. We have warned that lakhs of Panchamsali farmers will protest in front of the Vidhan Sabha building in Belagavi during the winter session on December 10.
When we protested, many farmers were injured when the police lathi-charged them. The police have registered a case against the leaders of Panchamasali, who started a peaceful protest.
* What do you expect from the Congress government?
Siddaramaiah is anti Lingayat. He ordered lathi-charge on the Panchamasali Lingayats who were peacefully protesting in front of the Assembly. When I asked him to come and address me and other protesters, he did not budge. Instead, he sent us three ministers, who gave us no assurances. We request the Congress High Command to intervene and give us 2A category status.
* What are the consequences if your demands are not met?
We warn the Congress high command that if our demands are not met, not even a single (five-yearly) vote will go in their favor in the next election. They will not come back to power.
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