The protests, led by the influential religious leader Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, escalated when demonstrators breached barricades set up by the police, attempting to march toward the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, where the Karnataka Legislative Assembly's winter session was in progress.
Tensions in Karnataka’s Belgavi reached a boiling point on Tuesday when protestors from the Panchamasali Lingayat community, angered by the government's refusal to meet their demands of upgrading reservation status, began damaging vehicles, including those of government officials and MLAs, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge.
The protests, led by the influential religious leader Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, escalated when demonstrators breached barricades set up by the police, attempting to march toward the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, where the Karnataka Legislative Assembly's winter session was in progress.
The situation spiraled further out of control, prompting the police to conduct a lathi charge to disperse the demonstrators. Many protestors were injured in the melee and numerous individuals were taken into preventive custody.
Footage of the clash captured the chaotic scenes, including injured protesters with bloodied clothes and police dragging demonstrators into custody. The violent confrontation left several vehicles damaged and saw protestors scattering in the wake of the police action. Video footage also revealed broken footwear and scattered belongings, underscoring the intensity of the clashes.
The violence has also sparked a political debate, with opposition leaders criticizing the state government’s handling of the situation. BJP leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal, a vocal advocate for the Panchamasali community’s demands, accused the Congress government of suppressing peaceful protests. He claimed the police were directed to use force to curb the agitation, which he described as a political maneuver to divert attention from the government's internal challenges.
BJP spokesperson GS Prashanth also condemned the use of force against the peaceful protesters and claimed the government's response was politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the Congress, led by Siddaramaiah, has stated that the issue would be evaluated based on the recommendations of the Backward Classes Commission, maintaining that the government was committed to fair representation but needed to follow proper procedures.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while acknowledging the protestors' right to agitate, said that their representatives had not attended scheduled discussions with the government.
“We are not opposed to protests in a democracy, but we had invited them for talks, and they did not show up,” said Siddaramaiah. The chief minister also reiterated that the government would review the community's demands through the state's Backward Classes Commission.
What are the protestors demanding?
The Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-sect of the dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, have long been demanding an upgrade in their reservation status. Currently, the community is classified under the 3B category, which grants them a 5 percent reservation in state-run educational institutions and government jobs. The community is pushing for inclusion in the 2A category, which would entitle them to a 15 percent reservation.
For the past three years, the Panchamasali community has been actively seeking a revision in their quota status, holding multiple protests, and engaging in dialogues with the state government.
Their demand for a 15 percent quota is rooted in concerns over perceived economic and social marginalization.
The Panchamasali leaders have insisted that their community's needs are urgent and require immediate attention, as they believe their current reservation status under the 3B category does not reflect their socio-economic conditions.