Panchamasalis threaten to block highways today

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As the Panchamasali Ling ayat community has not received a positive response from the government over the matter of 2A reservation, they have organised to block highways across the state on March 4 in order to protest. The members of the community have been protesting indefinitely at Freedom Park and will mark their 50th day on Saturday.

Basavajaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, pontiff of Panchamasali Jagadguru Peetha at Kudalasangama, and BJP MLA Basavangouda Patil Yatnal will be leading the protest. The seer has given a call to all the community leaders across the districts in the state to block highways.

Over 200 protesters have made all the necessary preparations to block the Bengaluru-Tumakuru road which acts as a connection to 14 districts and the Nelamangala tollgate highway at 11 am on Saturday. While addressing media personnel, Basavajaya Mruthyunjaya Swamiji noted that none of the Lingayat communities has held out a protest that lasted so long.

“We voted to form a favourable government. However, the authorities now sit in their air-conditioned rooms, and we are being made to sit on the roads. We supported the CM with love and affection but he has been focusing only on party activities and has not paid heed to our demands. He has no concern or interest in the Panchamasali Lingayat community,” he said. The highways are being blocked as a symbol of condemnation, he added.