Panchamasali Lingayats hit streets for quota but govt yet to decide

Belagavi: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday is said to have informally discussed the demand for higher reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Panchamasali Lingayat community on a day when the community held a massive convention as a show of strength under the leadership of Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth Seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami.

 Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is said to have sought time to take a decision on this issue after consulting legal experts and the BJP central leadership. The Panchamasalis want to be included in category 2A (15 per cent) of OBC reservation matrix.

According to sources, the Cabinet did not take any decision on the reservation demand.  It is said that the Chief Minister is likely to visit New Delhi soon, and is expected to discuss the demand for higher reservation with the party high command. Panchamasali Lingayats, considered to be BJP's core voter base, have been holding protests for some time now, pushing their demand.  

There is talk that the next Cabinet meeting is likely to take a decision on providing a higher quota for the Panchamashali community.  Karnataka Permanent Backward Classes Commission Chairman Jayaprakash Hegde, earlier in the day submitted an interim report to Bommai, in which the commission has reportedly recommended against increasing the quota for the Panchamashali community under 2A category and rather suggested for providing quota under a separate category.  

With already 102 occupational subcastes under 2A category sharing 15 per cent reservation, it remains to be seen how the government goes about without altering political equations, as there is likely to be some resentment by existing sub-castes.