Siddu vows to meet Panchamasalis after session

Maqsood Maniyar

Belagavi: Chief Minister Sidda ra maia h t ried to placate the Panchamasali Lingayats who are trying to revive their demand for reservation under 2A sub-category under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota, adding that he would meet community leaders after winter session is concluded.

The CM has been attending the winter session at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, which started on Monday and will conclude on December 15.

Moreover, Siddaramaiah has been shuttling back and forth between Belagavi and Bengaluru, making it difficult for him to address petitioners during the session.

There had also been a two day break to the session due to there being a second Saturday and Sunday.

“A discussion will be held with them after the Assembly session is over on 15. I will talk to Panchamasali leaders and Swamiji in Belagavi,” Siddaramaiah told mediapersons at the Belagavi airport on Monday.

He was referring to the Panchamasali Lingayat pontiff of the Kudalasangama mutt Basavajaya Mrutunjaya Swamy.

The main objective of the Panchamasali delegation demanding a meeting with the CM appears to be reigniting of the old demand of the inclusion of the Panmchamasalis in the OBC 2A sub-category which would give them access to 15 per cent reservation.

OBCs in the state get quota under five sub-categories. They are Category 1 (four per cent), Category 2A (15 per cent), Category 2B (4 per cent), Category 3A (4 per cent) and Category 3B (5 per cent) under which Lingayats get reservation.

The legal issue with the Panchamasali demand is that the 2A quota is set aside for castes occupied with “traditional occupations.”

These include Edigas who are associated with toddy tapping and Kurubas who were confined to goat herding.

Moreover, the reclassification and inclusion of castes under quotas is down to the judgement of the permanent backward classes commission after it undertakes a study and makes recommendations.

This is one of the precedents set by the Supreme Court under the Indira Sahani vs Union of India case. The CM also reiterated that the State government was willing to answer any questions Opposition parties raise.

“There is no question of delaying or wasting time,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Till today, there was a discussion on drought. We will answer it. We will give an answer to what has already been introduced in the session,” he added.