Can't turn blind eye to public inconvenience: CM on Panchamasalis
Several people including policemen were injured when the demonstration by Panchamasali community turned violent, compelling police to resort to lathi charge in Belagavi
PTI
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed that no one should take the law into their own hands
Vijayapura, 13 Dec
Karnataka Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah on Tuesday defended the lathi charge by police on the Panchamasali
agitators, saying that the government cannot turn a blind eye if someone takes
law into their hands and causes trouble to people.
Several people including policemen
were injured when the demonstration by a section of people from the
Panchamasali community turned violent, compelling police to resort to lathi
charge in Belagavi on Tuesday.
The Panchamasali agitators led by
the Kudalasangama Math pontiff Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swami were on the way to
lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.
The chief minister said the
government has no problem with the Panchamasali community demanding reservation
under 2A category and agitating, but the protest should be peaceful.
He appealed that no one should take the law into their own hands. "If anyone takes the law into their hands and causes trouble to people, then the government will not turn a blind eye," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
The Panchamasali community is
demanding their including under 2A, the category, which enjoys 15 per cent
reservation in education institutions and government jobs. Presently the
community is under 3B category which gets five per cent reservation.
The chief minister underlined that
the law is equal for everyone, be it Swami or anyone else.
Stating that everyone is free to
put forth a demand, he said the government will act according to the
Constitution.
Regarding the opposition’s
allegation that the police pelted stones at the people of the Panchamasali
community during the siege of Suvarna Soudha, Siddaramaiah said that he would
show photos of the agitators throwing stones and pushing the barricades and
entering.
"Why is the Swami sitting on
the road? If the protesters did not throw stones, how did more than 20
policemen get injured? Did the police themselves throw stones? There is
evidence for what I have mentioned," he said.
The chief minister advised the
Panchamasali community to approach the Permanent Commission for Backward
Classes to address their demand.
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