Pramesh S Jain. Yogesh K Porwar
In a big show of strength,the Panchamasali sub-section caste of the Lingayat community organised a mega rally on Sunday at Bengaluru’s Palace Grounds.Led by seers and sitting ministers of the government,the community is demanding that their existing reservation category be changed from 3B to 2A.
The crowd moving into the venue put normal traffic movement out of gear as hundreds of community members made their way into the venue coming from 18 districts of the state. Sunday’s rally also brings an end to the 465 km march from Kudalasangama mutt in Bagalkot district to the state capital.
Thousands of members of the Panchamasali Lingayat community gathered in Karnataka’ Bengaluru on Sunday demanding reservations for the community and its inclusion under the Category 2A in the state quota,warning that if the BS Yediyurappa-led government fails to do so they will organise a massive protest march.
The massive panchamasali protest march which started from kudalasangama on feb 4 reached Bengaluru today created a stir in the Yediyurappa led government.
Several leaders in the government including CC Patil and Murgesh Nirani failed to convince the protestors which demanded the government to pass the order on 2A reservation to the community as promised.
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The protest march led by Jaya Mrithunjaya Swamiji also threatened the government to issue the GO at the earliest failing which he will launch fast unto death to press for the demand.
Chief Minister who vent his ire on cabinet colleagues expresed dissatisfaction about not pacifiying the protestors.
City Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC following the intelligence report that the protestors planning to lay seige at Vidhana soudha.
The protestors who gathered at palace ground marched towards freedom park via cauvery junction.
They breached the barricades which was put up at the cauvery junction to stop protestors entering towards Vidhana soudha.
Tension prevailed for sometime but the police commissioner Kamal Pant who was at the spot to oversee the protest with his officers has well managed to contain the protestors to lead them to freedom park from alternate route.
It is said that Yediyurappa reportedly was angry with Basavaraj Bommai for not allowing the protest inside the city.Bommai assured to take care of the procession but failed.
CM took class to Home and Law Minister asking him explanation about traffic jam and inconvenience causes due to protest.
Community seers led by Jaya Mrityunjaya Swamiji have now given Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa a new deadline of March 4 to fulfil their demand.
Some supporters had also decided to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha. However they were stopped in their way by the police who convinced the community leaders to shift their protest site to Freedom Park.
Speaking at a massive convention at Palace Grounds in the city,organised by Panchamasalis- a sub-caste of the Lingayat community,Yatnal said that the dharna will continue until their demands were met.
“If you don’t declare 2A reservation by the end of the session,Lingayat community will,” he said, gesturing that the community would send Yediyurappa home.
Yatnal said that the CM will have to respond to the 2A reservation demands when the Legislature session resumed on March 4.If he continues his drama,two ministers from the community (CC Patil and Murugesh Nirani) and chairmen of boards and corporations should resign,” he said.
