The Bharatiya Janata Party government in the State seems to be under pressure from the Veerashaiva-Lingayats — among the party’s biggest supporters — over the vexed reservation issue.
Coming close on the heels of the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha urging the government to recommend to the Centre for inclusion of the community in the Central OBC list, the Panchamashali sect of the community has increased pressure on the government to include the sub-sect in the State’s OBC Category 2A.
On Monday, seer of Koodalasangama Lingayat Panchamashali Mahapeetha Sri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swami threatened to lay siege to the residence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at Shiggaon in Haveri district if the government does not decide on the Panchamashali’s demand to include them in 2A category before June 27. “Despite promising 2A status to the community multiple times, the government has failed to meet the demand. We will lay siege to CM’s residence if the government does not make its stand clear before June 27. Similar agitation will be launched across the State,” the seer told presspersons here.
