Karnataka: BJP MLAs Protest Lathi Charge On Panchamasali Community Amid Lingayat Quota Row

The police resorted to a lathi charge after Panchamasali members reportedly attempted to breach the legislative premises, Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, with tractors and blocked National Highway-4. 

The BJP and JD(S) criticised the Congress government for its handling of the situation.

Source : X

Karnataka BJP MLAs staged a protest in Belagavi against the lathicharge by police on Lingayat Panchamasali community members who were protesting with a demand to inclusion under the 2A reservation category. The BJP and JD(S) criticised the Congress government for its handling of the situation.

Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra Yediyurappa condemned the lathi charge, stating, “When the peaceful protest was going on, CM Siddaramaiah did not bother to come and meet Panchamasali Swami. Instead, police were given full control to do lathi charge at the peaceful protestors. BJP and JDS have taken this issue seriously. Since the session is starting again today, we are going to demand that the CM Siddaramaiah gives answers.”

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader C.N. Ashwath Narayan remarked, “They are demanding an increase in the reservation which the prior BJP government had implemented… In this direction, the people were protesting peacefully. The government unnecessarily instigated the agitators by lathi charge. We want the Congress government to take action against the concerned officials who started the lathi charge."

He also called upon the Governor to immediately take action against the concerned officials.

 

#WATCH | Belagavi, Karnataka: BJP MLAs protest against police lathicharge on Panchamasali community members in Belagavi

Members of Panchamasali community held a protest yesterday demanding reservation under the 2A category. pic.twitter.com/ErAWYANd6G

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2024

 

Protest by Panchamasali community members

On Tuesday, thousands demonstrators from Panchamasali community led by Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peetha seer Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swamy gathered to demand their reservation. The protesters urged the government to shift the quota from the current 3B category (5%) to the 2A category which provides a 15% quota, as per a report on Hindustan Times. However, the situation turned violent when protesters attempted to breach the legislative premises with tractors and blocked National Highway-4. 

Soon, the police resorted to a lathi charge outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday.

In response to the clashes, the Hirebagewadi police filed a suo motu FIR against several demonstrators involved in Tuesday’s violence near Vikas Soudha.