Karnataka: Will Panchamasali Lingayats increase BJP’s problems in Karnataka? march for reservation

Panchamasali Lingayat Reservation: The padayatra of the Panchamasali Lingayat community in Karnataka reached Belagavi on Thursday. The community demands that they be included in the 15 per cent OBC category of 2A, giving more reservation. Heavy police force has been deployed at Hirebagwadi in Belagavi in ​​view of the Panchamasali Padayatra being led by Saint Basava Jaya Mrityunjaya Swami of Kudalsangam Panchamasali Peeth.

Panchamasali Lingayat community march for reservation

State Home Minister Araga Gyanendra said the Panchamasali Lingayats were protesting peacefully with their demands and the police had made proper arrangements according to the number of protesters here. At the same time, the Karnataka government may take a decision on Thursday (December 22) on the long-standing demand of the Panchamasali Lingayat community in Karnataka regarding reservation.

The Panchamasali Lingayat community is a sub-sect of the dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. It is considered as the base of voters of BJP. The Panchmasali community wants to be included in Category 2A (15 per cent) of the OBC reservation matrix. They are currently in the category of 3B (5 percent). Panchamasali Lingayats in Karnataka are demanding more reservation to meet the educational and professional needs of their community.

Demand to include OBC in 2A category

The Panchamasali Lingayats are agitating for providing education and job quota under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. The demand of Panchmasali community is to be included under 2A quota category for OBCs under which they will get 15 per cent reservation. Presently they fall in the 3B category in Karnataka which comprises only five per cent quota. Majority of the members of the community do agriculture. The Panchamasali Lingayat community has cited poverty among a large section of its people as the reason behind their demand for OBC reservation.

The Panchamasalis claim about 8.5 million of the state’s 60 million population and the Lingayats claim more than 70 per cent of the population. This is estimated to be around 17 per cent of the population of Karnataka.

Bommai (Basavraj Bommai) government can take a decision soon

BJP’s Bijapur city MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who was at the forefront of the Panchamasali Lingayat reservation movement, has indicated the decision of the cabinet. He told reporters, “A decision will be taken regarding reservation. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will take a historic decision. You will see Bommai making the official announcement tomorrow.” Saint Basava Jaya Mrityunjaya Swamy of Kudalasangam Panchamasali Peeth, who is leading the agitation, said, “If the chief minister does justice by giving us reservation, we will respect him, if he delays the decision, we will protest in front of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.”