Panchamasalis should approach BC Commission, says Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (File)
| Photo Credit: KVS Giri

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on December 13, 2024, said that the Lingayat Panchamasali community should approach the Permanent Backward Classes Commission with their demand for inclusion under 2A category of the backward classes.

Speaking to reporters in Vijaypura, Mr. Siddaramaiah clarified that during the BJP regime, the chairman of Backward Classes Commission Jayaprakash Hegde in his report said that there should be no change in composition of the 2A and 2B categories.

“In his report he has said that there should not be any addition to the 2A, 2B list and reservation under 2B category at 4% should be continued and it should not be abolished. And this report was given during the BJP rule”, he said.

The Chief Minister clarified that they had no qualms about the community seeking reservation under 2A category.

“But we have to go according to law. Nobody will stop them from protesting but it has to be peaceful. Nobody should take law into their hands,” he said, adding that if anyone took law into their hands and created problems for the public, the government would not keep quiet with its eyes shut.

Mr. Siddaramaiah sought to know why there was no protest during the BJP government when the backward classes commission chairman said that the composition should not be changed. “Now the same BJP is supporting the agitation,” he quipped.

The Chief Minister also mentioned the affidavit in the Supreme Court over a petition filed by Gulam Rasool against abolition of 4% reservation of Muslims under 2B category and giving it to Lingayats and Vokkaligas. In the affidavit, the BJP government said that it would not implement the order, he said.

On seer’s statement

On Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami’s statement that the Chief Minister was ‘heartless’, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the people would decide on it.

He further said that whether it was a seer or anyone elese, the law was equal to all.

“For me and the seer and you, the law is same. According to Article 14 of the Constitution, there is equality before law and equal protection law. We have liberty to express ourselves and the seer can express his views. Ultimately we will act according to Constitution”, he said.

Regarding an allegation that police in plainclothes pelted stones during the protest, the CM said he had photographs of protestors pelting stones and pushing barricades. ‘Why did the seer sit on the road? If protestors did not pelt stones, how come over 20 police personnel suffered injuries? Do you mean to say police threw stones on themselves?”, he asked adding that he had evidence to prove his statement.