Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 6: Former minister and senior Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary flagged off Pranavananda Swamiji’s padayatra from Mangaluru to Bengaluru over various demands on Friday January 6 at Kudroli temple.
The padayatra is led by Pranavananda Swamiji Peetadipathi of Brahmashree Narayana Guru Shakthi Peeta, Kalburagi, demanding the state government to form a corporation for the welfare of Billawas and Ediga communities including 26 other sects and to fulfil various demands.
The padayatra will be held for 40 days covering a distance of 658 km. Later, an indefinite hunger strike will be held at Bengaluru Freedom Park.
Telangana Minister Srinivas Gowda said, “The government should act immediately to fulfil various demands of the community and also built community hall for Billawa in every district and state’s major centres. The central government have privatised many companies for the sake of Ambani and Adani. It is unfortunate that the government is not encouraging toddy tapping which is hereditary job of Billawa, Ediga and Namadhari communities.
“There are 10 demands from our community to the government. We will not be quiet until all 10 demands are fulfilled. The government have not given any details regarding the Narayana Guru corporation which they have planned to start. If the corporation is formed which against the interests of our community, we will definitely protest against such a move. For the sake of politics, 21 Billawas have been murdered. Such things should not be repeated,” he said.
The demands of Pranavananda Swamiji include Rs 500 crores from government after the formation of the Brahmashree Narayana Guru Corporation, tapping of toddy should be allowed all over the state, the government should look into the demands of the Billawa community and end injustice, and the government should stop harassment being meted out to the temple administrative committee of Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple which is being run by the Ediga community.
Sri Vishudananda swamiji from Shivgiri, Sri Sangamananda swamiji, Sri Basava Kumbara Gundayya swamiji, Sri Nischala Niranjana swamiji from Doddaballapura, MLC Harish Kumar, Billawa leaders Rajashekar Kotian, H S Sairam, Suman Talwar, Padmaraj, Archana Jaiswal, H R Srinath, former mayor Kavitha Sanil and others were present.