Lingayat reservation discussion: M B Patil stresses on sub-caste unification

Bengaluru

At the book launch event titled " vachana darshana mithya vs satya" held at the Basava Committee's Experience Hall, Minister M.B. Patil addressed the ongoing efforts for reservation for the Lingayat community. He asserted that the reservation objective was firmly in place when the Lingayat movement began.

In his speech, Patil remarked that during the time of the previous government, there was limited time to address various issues, which led to misunderstandings and mistakes from multiple fronts. He pointed out that the Okkaliga community comprises numerous sub-castes, yet they manage to secure reservations under a single caste. He emphasized the need for Lingayat sub-groups to unify under one banner to achieve similar benefits.

"We are conducting caste censuses. During these censuses, we have registered as Gaaniga, Banajiga, or Koodu Okkaliga, but no one has registered as Veerashaiva Lingayat. This is the reason our numbers have drastically reduced from 2 crores to 65 lakhs. If we continue this way, even future caste censuses will show fewer numbers. Hence, it is imperative that all Lingayats come together under a single head for reservation purposes,” he stated.

Various dignitaries, including Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, Ministers M.B. Patil and B.R. Patil, Shankar Bidari, and Dr. Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swamiji, were present at the event, fostering discussions about the future of Lingayat community reservations and the emphasis on sub-caste unification for better representation in benefit schemes.