PADUBIDRI (
UDUPI DISTRICT
): Tacitly backing demand by Panchamasali
Lingayat community
for reservations for the community and its inclusion under the Category 2A in the state quota, former chief minister
Siddaramaiah however put a rider. Only those (communities) that are eligible as per the Constitution (for reservation) should get it, Siddaramaiah said adding that there is nothing wrong (on part of the community) in seeking
reservation
.
Interacting with the media after inaugurating the 108-km ‘Janadwani Padayatra’ organised by Udupi District
Congress Committee here on Monday, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly did not foresee a Constitutional logjam by this demand of the community. “There is a permanent backward classes commission, which should examine the demand and give its recommendation on who should be included or excluded from the list,” he said.
Not willing to term the deadline given by the leaders of the community to chief minister
B S Yediyurappa
for their inclusion under the Category 2A as a ‘blackmail’ tactics, Siddaramaiah said, “They (the Panchamasali Lingayat community) are asking for it (reservation). It is left to the government to decide on their demands as per the Constitution.” The community on Sunday set a March 4 deadline to the government to decide on the 2A quota.
On accusation that Mohammed Mansoor Khan, founder of I Monetary Advisory Group that floated a ponzi scheme offering investors dream returns on investments had paid off political leaders including him and former CM H D Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah shot back, “I have not taken 5 paise from anyone.” Home minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday had said any such accusation, if true, will figure in the chargesheet that
CBI will file.
Defending his choice not to donate to the
Ram Temple
in
Ayodhya, Siddaramaiah said instead he is doing so for a Ram Temple that is being built in his village. “Isn’t the Lord Ram in my village that same son of King Dasharatha for whom a temple is being constructed in Ayodhya?”, he quipped, refusing to react to a comment of Sri Vishwaprasanna Thirtha swamiji, Pejavar Mutt seer that he doubts the integrity of people who question Lord Ram.
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