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vbBengaluru: Some name it a masterstroke. Some name it a political hara-kiri. The beleaguered chief minister of Karnataka, BS Yediyurappa, has performed an enormous gamble by proposing to make his caste Lingayats, Other Backward Class or OBCs. He has performed one other gamble by constituting a separate physique for them – Veerashaiva – Lingayat Development Corporation. Both the selections have triggered a political storm, threatening to divide the state additional on caste traces, apparently angering the RSS.
Although the nervous chief minister has put the choice on maintain after a frantic name from the BJP excessive command in New Delhi opposing the transfer, Yediyurappa has already let the genie out of the bottle.
Political pundits are divided over what really prompted the 78-year-old stalwart to gamble at this age. Some argue that he has carried out it to save lots of his shaky chair by consolidating the help of Lingayats in his favour. The others really feel that it’s simply an impulsive resolution, which has backfired badly additional eroding his authority over the federal government and the BJP.
The Lingayats are the one largest caste in Karnataka after the Scheduled Castes or the SCs. The higher caste Shaivaites, who even name themselves a separate faith, based in the 12th century by an awesome social reformer Basavanna, are politically and economically probably the most influential pan Karnataka caste. Yediyurappa is taken into account their undisputed chief with an enormous mass following amongst them.
Some Lingayats aren’t proud of forming only a Development Corporation and are demanding 16% reservation on the traces of Maratha reservation in neighbouring Maharashtra. They declare that majority Lingayats are extraordinarily poor and it’s a false impression that every one are nicely off.
Making them OBCs allows them to get reservation in state and central authorities jobs. But, the opposite castes that are already OBCs are jittery in regards to the transfer to make Lingayats OBCs and they’re flexing muscular tissues to stop this by demanding that a few of them ought to be added to SCs or STs, additional complicating the problem.
After he shaped the Lingayat Development Corporation, a minimum of 50 different castes have come ahead demanding related boards and companies for them.
According to some insiders, Yediyurappa’s transfer has upset the RSS mightily, which believes in the Hindu unity and needs the individuals to rise above caste affiliations. They really feel that Yediyurappa has knowingly or unknowingly undone one thing that the RSS has painstakingly constructed over time.
When prime Lingayat chief in the Congress MB Patil led a motion for a separate Lingayat faith tag, three years in the past, the identical Yediyurappa had accused him of attempting to divide the Hindu faith. Now his critics are citing the identical instance to embarrass Yediyurappa.
MB Patil, the second most influential Lingayat chief after Yediyurappa, is sustaining a radio silence over the present happenings. He refused to touch upon the developments saying he’s simply watching the unfolding occasions fastidiously.
But his followers are actually taunting the BJP and RSS saying that their very own man Yediyurappa has now divided the Hindu faith and never MB Patil.
“It is a fact that Basavanna founded the Lingayat religion to fight the Hindu caste system. He wanted to create an egalitarian, casteless society. We are certainly a separate religion. But, Yediyurappa is now dividing the entire Hindu religion on caste lines by constituting boards and corporations for every caste. What is RSS’ stand on this?” requested one of many leaders of the separate Lingayat faith.
The Congress, which is conscious of the delicate nature of entire challenge, is treading cautiously by issuing measured reactions.
If and when Yediyurappa forwards the reservation for Lingayats suggestion to the Centre, the BJP authorities in New Delhi must deal with it with utmost care as any misadventure may cost a little the saffron get together dearly in future.
Only the time will inform whether or not Yediyurappa has trapped the excessive command or shot himself in the leg by opening a Pandora’s Box.
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