Mruthyunjaya Swami calls for highway blockade across K’taka on Saturday

BENGALURU: With no positive response coming from the government over the issue of 2A reservation for Panchamasali Lingayat community has planned to hold massive protest and  block highways across the state on Saturday (March 4). The community members have been on an indefinite protest at Freedom Park for last 49 days and will enter its 50th day on Saturday.

Basavajaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, pontiff of Panchamasali Jagadguru Peetha at Kudalasangama, and BJP MLA Basavangouda Patil Yatnal are leading the protest and the seer had already given a call to the community leaders in every district to block highways in the respective districts.

The protesters will block Bengaluru-Tumakuru road, which connects 14 districts, around 11 am and all necessary preparations have been made to block the highway at Nelamanagala tollgate. More than 200 people are expected to participate in the protest.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Basavajaya Mruthyunjaya Swamiji said, “We all voted for forming a favourable government. But now, while they sit in air-conditioned rooms, the Chief Minister has forced us to sit on the road. None of the Lingayat communities in history have held such a long-drawn protest seeking fulfilment of their demands. We supported the CM a lot, gave love and affection and got him to seat in the CM’s chair. He is only involved in party activities and is ignoring our long-pending demand. Going by his reaction, we think that he has no interest and no concern for teh Panchamasali Lingayat community”.

Basavajaya Mruthyunjaya Swami called for a highway blockade across the state on Friday on the 50th day of their indefinite dharna .

“We are decided to block highways to condemn the dual policies of the government. We have given a call to all community leaders in the districts to block state and national highways and extend support us”, the seer added.