'BSY asked for votes and promised 2A quota...but he did not deliver'

Panchamasali seer says they distanced themselves from ex-CM because he went back on his word

Veena G | NT

Bengaluru: Kudalasang ama-based Panchamasali Mutt Seer Jagadguru Basava Jaya Mrityunjaya has claimed that former CM BS Yediyurappa had given his word before he became CM that he would fulfill the 2A category demand of the community but went back on his assurance.

The seer, who started a protest on January 6 on the issue, said while talking to News Trail that ''Yediyurappa asked for our votes, and in return asured us 2A reservation, but he did not deliver. So we distanced ourselves from him."

The seer is on a continuous sit-in satyagraha at Freedom Park in the city every day from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm on the issue, accompanied by Lingayat Panchamsali community members. The protest is scheduled to end on March 5. Panchamasaalis are a sub-sect of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community and constitute nearly 80% of Lingayats.

They are currently included in the 3B category for reservation which is for economically weaker sections(EWS). They are fighting for reservation in the 2A category which is currently given to the Kurubas, Edigas and 100 other communities who belong to the backward castes.

Prominent members of the ruling party like JP Nadda, and Pralhad Joshi have reportedly visited the satyagraha site to discuss the issue with the seer, while promising to take it up with the state government.

"The government promised us, Mr Basavaraj Bommai swore in his mother's name that he would give us reservation. They promised but they let us down six times," he claimed.

Approached the Centre...but no help

Disappointed with the lack of response to their cause by the state government, the seer sent a letter addressed to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah asking the Centre to intervene in the matter. He is hopeful that the Centre will be able to come up with a positive outcome for the community.

Mathas, seers, and politics have been inextricably linked in recent decades as a result of the establishment of mathas for every caste and sub-caste and the resulting identity politics. Those seeking political power rely on mathas and seers, who serve as channels between politicians and the communities they represent, to provide political legitimacy.

In his letter to the PM, the seer said he had reminded them of the vote bank the community offers. “The government is indebted to our community, 80% of people from the Lingayat-Panchamsali community have voted them to power, therefore Mr Bommai owes us this reservation.”