Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 16: Pitadipathi Sri Brahmashree Narayana Guru Shakthi Peeta, Kardala, taluk Chitrapur, Kalburgi district Shri Pranavananda Swamiji on Thursday, February 16 said, "Political parties should provide tickets to aspirants representing our community in the upcoming assembly in elections. Political parties irrespective of their ideology should give three tickets to the Billawa community or to the other sub-communities each in Dakshina Kannada and in Udupi districts. The same priority should be given to Shivamogga, and Karwar and other parts of the state.

Addressing a press meet he said, “In spite of political parties’ different ideologies, they should give representation to the members of 26 communities including the Billawa and Ediga. The community has 76 lac population the entire state. Toddy-taping in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi is allowed. But in other districts, it has been stopped,” he said.

The Swamiji also said that a padayatra was held demanding the government to form a Brahmashree Narayana Development Corporation and allocate for funds for the same. He said, “The padayatra was started from Kudroli and culminated at Bengaluru. Leaders from various communities irrespective of political parties joined us. The padayatra was held covering 760 kilometres demanding the government to fulfill various demands of the community.

"The government should bring out an order copy that instructs genealogy study of the 26 communities and the same should be passed in the cabinet meeting and the government should pressurize the union government on the same. The government should include the communities under the SC category,” he said.

He also said that he had demanded to allocate Rs 500 crore to form a Brahmashree Narayana Development Corporation. “It is likely to be materialized in the 2023-2024 budget,” he said.