Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami expressed disappointment over Congress leaders withdrawing support for the ongoing agitation.
Published Dec 03, 2024 | 5:56 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 03, 2024 | 5:57 PM
The Panchamasali sect of the Lingayat community held a massive protest demanding OBC status to the sect near Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. (File photo/South First)
In a renewed push for the demand for the fight for 2A reservation and Other Backward Classes (OBC) status for Panchamasali, Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peetha Seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami urged the community to lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on 10 December.
It has been nearly five years since Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami started the protest for the 2A (mostly backward communities) reservation and OBC status for Panchamasali, a sub-sect of the Lingayat community.
While the seer’s commitment to the cause has remained unwavering, the same cannot be said for political leaders, whose shifting stances —conveniently aligned with their party’s position in power — have undermined the movement.
Congress leaders, including Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar and Lingayat Panchamasali Agitation Committee National President MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar, who were closely associated with the agitation until 2023, distanced themselves from this protest.
This inconsistency has not only dented the momentum of the protest but has also fueled frustration among the community, exposing the opportunistic nature of electoral politics.
Even though the erstwhile Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government — by snatching away the four percent reservation of minorities — had allocated two percent each for Panchamasalis and Vokkaligas under the 2D and 2C reservation matrix respectively in 2022, it was met with legal hurdles as the high court stayed the government’s order.
The seer’s unwavering determination, bolstered financially and morally by BJP’s Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and other community leaders, has kept the fight for the 2A reservation alive.
With the Congress government not showing any interest in fulfilling reservation demands of one of the influential sub-sects of the Lingayat community anytime soon, Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami has announced that Panchamasalis would lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on 10 December, when the winter session is underway.
Stating that she would not be part of the protest, Minister Hebbalkar, the lone community leader in the state Cabinet, told reporters in Vijayapura: “I will not be taking part in the protest due to the work schedule. I am occupied on the day the protest is being held.”
“We have high regard and respect for the seer. However, he should not stage a protest to embarrass the government.”
“I was also part of the protest held during the Bommai government. We had met the then chief minister thrice to get the demands fulfilled,” Hebbalkar said and added that she would continue to fight for the community’s reservation demands.
Meanwhile, Kashappanavar has strongly criticised the seer for organising the protest and accused him of turning the Panchamasalis’ protest into a one-party movement.
Kashappanavar, speaking to reporters in Kudalasangama, said, “Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami has turned the movement into a one-party affair. It appears to be an anti-Congress protest backed by the BJP.”
“I am urging the seer to declare that this is a political movement supporting the BJP and not a social movement to secure reservation for the Panchamasalis. I was instrumental in mobilising the community and in the establishment of a Mutt. But the seer has not only taken charge of the protest but has also made it appear pro-BJP,” he added, clarifying that he would not be a part of the protest planned at Belagavi.
He said the chief minister would decide on providing reservation to Panchamasalis only after the Backward Classes Commission’s final report is made public.
It is interesting to note that, BJP leaders and former ministers Murugesh Nirani and CC Patel had expressed similar views during a protest when the saffron party was in power.
Efforts were even made to persuade the seer to withdraw his protest. However, despite the change in government, the seer continued his protest.
Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami expressed disappointment over Congress leaders withdrawing support for the ongoing agitation.
“These politicians make such decisions because of their nature. When they are out of power, they rely on us fully, but when they regain power, they distance themselves from us,” he told South First.
“They are following the instructions of their party leadership rather than listening to the people of the community who played a significant role in their election. They are pulling back from the protest to appease their party leaders. However, as a seer, I must prioritise the words and welfare of the people,” he added.
The seer accused the state government of influencing these decisions. “When the BJP was in power, many community leaders from the saffron cadre behaved similarly. Now, it’s the turn of the Congress leaders, who are following the same pattern as BJP leaders,” he alleged.
“I had foreseen these developments and remained steadfast in my demands. We will proceed with our plan to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. No one can stop this protest, even if the government uses force, including weapons. We will continue,” the seer said and added that he started consulting advocates for the ongoing movement instead of politicians.
When asked about the protest despite talks with the chief minister, he explained: “During the meeting, the government claimed they couldn’t make decisions due to the election model code of conduct. The chief minister did not offer any assurances.”
“Even for courtesy’s sake, the chief minister did not acknowledge that he is with the community, which played a crucial role in the party’s victory in several seats. I am dissatisfied with how the chief minister responded to our concerns, which is why I have announced this major protest in Belagavi on 10 December.”
The seer reiterated that they would withdraw from the protest once the Siddaramaiah cabinet decides on 2A reservation and OBC status for the Panchamasalis and other sects of the Lingayat community.
With key Panchamasali leaders from the Congress, who were major financiers, pulling their support, Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami’s call for the demonstration is now receiving not only moral backing but also financial support from politicians, contractors, businessmen, and devotees.
Till 2023, Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami was backed financially by Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, MLAs Vijayananda Kashappanavar, CC Patil, Vinay Kulkarni, and other Panchamasali leaders.
With leaders such as Hebbalkar and Kashappanavar withdrawing their support, the Panchamasali agitation is now being backed by the remaining community leaders such as Yatnal, CC Patil, Vinay Kulkarni, Rajya Sabha member Iranna B Kadadi, former JD(S) MLA HS Shivashankar, and Class-I & II contractors, claimed members of the community.
On condition of anonymity, a member of the Panchamasali Agitation Committee told South First: “The funding for the agitation is being provided by leaders across political parties. While Congress leaders like Laxmi Hebbalkar and Vijayananda Kashappanavar have withdrawn their support due to pressure from their high command, leaders such as Vinay Kulkarni continue to extend support in various ways.”
“When the padayatra was announced in 2021, contributions poured in from politicians, contractors, businessmen, and devotees, collectively raising approximately ₹10 crore. Of this, only about 20 to 25 percent has been utilised till now and the remaining funds are still with the committee,” the member said.
“For the upcoming protest, financial support is being offered in different forms. Some MLAs, regardless of their political affiliation, are covering diesel expenses, others are arranging food and beverages for participants, some are handling travel costs, and others are managing expenses for stationery and logistics.”
Over 10,000 people are expected to participate in the tractor rally and demonstration.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
