From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 3: The rift between the Koodalasngama Panchamasali Lingayat Math Seer Basavaraj Jayamrithyunjaya Swamiji, who is an influential religious leader of the Panchamasali Lingayat community that spearheaded the State-wide agitation demanding 2A category status of Other Backward Community, and the Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani is out in the open.

The influential Panchamasali Lingayat Math Seer has attacked the minister for asserting through his followers that he has made huge donations to the Math and said that he would return all that the minister had donated by raising alms.

The Swamiji has asked Nirani to speak to him directly instead of abusing the Math through his followers by making insinuations that the minister has donated a lot to the Math.

Nirani, a prominent leader of the Panchamasali Lingayat community, is representing the Bilagi Assembly constituency of Bagalkote district.

The Jayamrithyunjaya Swamiji has also attacked the minister for trying to create a division within the community by forming the third math and made it clear that he works for the welfare of the community and will not be deterred even if thousand maths are formed.

Meanwhile, the minister’s supporters have urged the Swamiji to verify facts and not arrive at conclusions based on hearsay or social media posts.

 The Jayamrithyunjaya Swamiji, who led the agitation demanding 2A OBC status for the community when B S Yediyurappa was the chief minister, had even met the present Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and has urged the state government to announce its decision during the forthcoming budget session of the State Legislature.