Panchamasali protest turns violent, 20 hurt

A clash broke out between the police and the protesters belonging to the Panchamasali Lingayat community, who have been demanding inclusion in the 2A category of Other Backward Classes reservation, outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, police said, adding that about 20 people were injured in the incident. Belagavi: Police stop protestors who tried to barge into Suvarna Vidhana Soudha during their protest demanding quota for the Panchamasali Lingayat community, in Belagavi, Tuesday The protest, led by Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peetha seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swamy, aimed to seek inclusion of the Panchamasali community in the 2A category, which offers a 15% reservation, as opposed to their current position in the 3B category with a 5% quota. They will be able to get good jobs and education if the reservation is granted according to the 2A category.” Seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swamy voiced his frustration over the community’s treatment and said: “The Panchamasalis, despite dominating in politics mainly in the northern part of the state, have no relaxation in education and government jobs. JD leader and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy slammed the state government for its oppressive measures and said: “The government has chosen Adolf Hitler’s path to silence the Panchamasali community.