Karnataka Government Stands by Police Response to Panchamasali Lingayat Protests

Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 12 (NationPress) - The Congress government in Karnataka publicly backed the police's response to demonstrators advocating for reservation under the 2A Category for the Panchamasali Lingayats. This comes as community members organized protests statewide, urging the suspension of high-ranking police officials for supposed excessive force.

During a press briefing in Belagavi, Home Minister G. Parameshwara explained that police utilized a lathi-charge as a precautionary action and insisted there were no malicious intentions involved. He noted that the Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth seer, Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, and his followers breached prohibitory orders.

“This is precisely what transpired. I do not wish to delve into the reservation demands. We would be held accountable if law and order were compromised. In that context, steps were taken,” Parameshwara stated.

He elaborated, “The Panchamasali sect, under the seer’s leadership, expressed their intention to protest. Protesting is their right. We have not obstructed their right to protest. The seer indicated he would surround the Suvarna Soudha with 5,000 tractors. We could not allow this, and the seer sought the court's intervention. The court ruled that while the government could deny the tractors, protesters were permitted to arrive in Belagavi and demonstrate. A designated area was provided for their protest. Our Chief Minister dispatched Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh, and M.C. Sudhakar to engage with them. Additionally, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, a local, accompanied them.

“The seer remained unyielding, demanding the Chief Minister attend the protest. When the Ministers clarified that CM Siddaramaiah could not be present, the seer instructed protesters to march to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha,” Parameshwara added, explaining that this led protesters to push through barricades onto the main road (national highway). The police were compelled to intervene. The court had mandated that protests be conducted peacefully and not disrupt public order. The district authorities had also issued specific orders,” he mentioned.

“All prohibitory measures were disregarded, and High Court directives were flouted when they attempted to encircle the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. Consequently, the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge. If they had been allowed to besiege the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, it would set a precedent for others,” he stated.

Reports indicate that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was informed about the situation by Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, who confirmed that the police's actions against the protesters were justified.

CM Siddaramaiah reviewed the entire video footage and was informed of the violations against the High Court's order, according to sources.

Meanwhile, members of the Panchamasali Lingayat community initiated protests statewide in response to the seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami's call to obstruct roads.

The Panchamasali seer led a demonstration near the toll plaza at Hirebagewadi on the outskirts of Belagavi along the national highway. He labeled CM Siddaramaiah as anti-Lingayat. Protests also occurred in Hubballi, Haveri, Gadag, and other district centers.

The agitation by the Panchamasali Lingayats escalated into violence when a mob hurled stones at police and attempted to encircle the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Tuesday. Police intercepted thousands of demonstrators on their way to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, cautioning them against proceeding further. The protesters allegedly responded by throwing stones and footwear at law enforcement, prompting police to use lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

The seer accused the Congress government in Karnataka of intimidating community leaders to quell the protest for reservations. He warned that if matters escalated, there would be a “blood revolution” in the state.

The Panchamasali community's demand for inclusion in the 2A category aims to elevate them to a classification of backward communities, where 15 percent reservation is allotted across various groups. Currently, they fall under the 3B category, which only secures five percent reservation in government employment and educational institutions.

The Panchamasali sect is a significant faction within the Lingayat community, primarily located in the North Karnataka region and mainly engaged in agriculture.

The situation has intensified, with the BJP pledging its full support for the agitation and the demands of the Panchamasali Lingayat sect, as the Lingayats represent a crucial support base for the BJP in Karnataka.