Panchamsalis Renew 2A Quota Protest in Belagavi, Karnataka

The influential Panchamsali sect within the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community has initiated the second phase of their statewide protest in Belagavi district, Karnataka. Their demand encompasses securing 2A reservations and inclusion in the OBC category.

The movement commenced with an 'Istalinga pooja,' a Hindu prayer ritual, held along the Pune-Bengaluru national highway in Nippani, a border town, in a bid to capture the government's attention. The ritual, led by Jayabasava Mrutunjaya Swamy of Kudalasangama mutt, marked the beginning of the agitation and lasted only three minutes, including a prayer for farmers' well-being.

The community is advocating for reservation in education and employment under the 2A category within the state and seeks inclusion in the OBC category at the national level. The movement was inaugurated by garlanding the Basaveshwar statue at Basaveshwar Circle, followed by a mass convention at Shivaji Maharaj Cultural Auditorium before moving to the national highway for the Istalinga pooja, officially launching the movement.

As part of their ongoing efforts, Istalinga pooja will also be conducted in Bagalkote on September 18 and in Chadachan town on September 24, with plans to expand the reservation movement into Maharashtra in the near future due to a significant community presence there.

Expressing disappointment with the previous BJP government for granting reservation in the 2D category instead of the demanded 2A category, the Panchamsalis had supported the Congress government in the state with hopes of achieving their goals.

They have now issued an indirect warning, suggesting that they may not support the BJP in the next parliamentary election if their demands remain unmet. The seer emphasized that the BJP-led NDA government must include the Panchamsali community in the OBC category before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Criticizing the state government for failing to make a concrete decision regarding the 2A reservation within the specified timeframe, the seer announced plans for a significant community gathering at the Kudalasangama mutt campus.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the 2D reservation issue, the community leaders had met with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had promised to consider their request after the budget session. However, the seer noted that there has been no response from the chief minister so far.

The seer expressed confidence in the community's strength and support, given the political influence of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in the state. Notably, various branches of the community are uniting in this movement.

Prominent figures, including Chikkodi BJP MP Annasaheb Jolle, former minister Nippani BJP MLA Shashikala Jolle, Karnataka Minister for Women and Family Welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkar, and BJP Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi, have expressed their support for the Panchamsali community's demands and promised to take action within their respective capacities.

In contrast, Vijayapur BJP legislator Basangouda Patil Yatnal expressed regret for his party's failure to fulfill the community's demands during their time in power, despite having a significant number of Panchamsali legislators in the previous assembly.

Also Read: Protest by Karnataka Border Villagers Against Maharashtra Irrigation Project

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