Published 16:31 IST, December 10th 2024
Belagavi Protest: Why Panchamasali Community is Protesting And What Are Their Demands?
Panchamasali community organized massive protests on Tuesday, pressing the Siddaramaiah government to address the quota demand issue promptly.

Belagavi: As protests escalated in Belagavi over its demand for inclusion in the 2A Category of Other Backward Classes, the Panchamasali community staged a massive demonstration on Tuesday, pressing the Siddaramaiah government to address the issue promptly.
During the protests, Karnataka Police on Tuesday lathicharged Panchamasali community who were demanding inclusion under the 2A reservation category.
The protest was led by prominent seer Basava Jayamrutyunjaya Swamiji of Kudalasangama.
Why are Protests Happening In Belagavi?
The Panchamasali community, a subsect of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat group, has been advocating for years to be moved from their current 3B category, which grants a 5% reservation, to the 2A category, which offers a 15% reservation for socially and economically disadvantaged classes.
The Panchamasali community has been recognized under the 2A category of Other Backward Classes since December 2012.
CM Siddaramaiah Blames Bommai
Karnataka Chief Minister said that the previous BJP -led government under Basvaraj Bommai reallocated the 4% Muslim reservation between Categories 3A and 3B instead of paying attention to the sub-castes coming under 2A category.
“Instead of granting the 2A classification, the Bommai government reallocated the 4% Muslim reservation equally between Categories 3A and 3B,” CM Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah Invites Protestors For Talks
Karnataka Chief Minister said that he is willing to listen to the demands of the protestors adding that it is their legitimate right to protest.
"We had invited them for a discussion, but they didn't come. We asked 10 of the protesters to join us for talks about their demands, but they did not turn up. Now that the assembly has been adjourned, we are leaving. In a democracy, if anyone wants to protest, we have no objection. Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy, and they are exercising that right," CM Siddaramaiah said.
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Updated 18:12 IST, December 10th 2024