Cong MLA, Yeshwantraigouda Patil welcomes decision of forming welfare board for Veerashaiva/Lingayat
Bijapur: After the Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa announced to constitute the Veerashaiva/Lingayat Development Board, several leaders of the community across the party lines have started welcoming the decision.
Joining the league, Congress MLA of Indi Taluk, Yeshwantraigouda Patil has hailed the decision by describing it as ‘historical’.
“It was the long-standing demand of the people of Veerashaiva/Lingayat community to have a separate development board for the welfare of the economically and socially weaker section of the community. Since the BJP government has met the demand, I welcome the decision”, he said.
Addressing presspersons on Wednesday, he claimed that he had raised the matter first during the assembly session where he had urged the government to constitute a Board for the welfare of the community.
Stating that other legislators of different political parties too had supported him, Patil said that the government has finally acknowledged the demand.
Admitting that several people of the community are well off and they do not need any financial assistance or benefits from the government, he however said that since Veerashaiva and Lingayats have several sub-sects that are finally weak and need support, Patil, the Board will help them to come into the mainstream of the society.
Supporting the demand for including the community in the 2A category, he said that as the government has now decided to constitute a development board, it should also take a decision in including the community in the 2A category.
Reacting to some of the Seers of the community objecting to the decision, Patil chose to downplay it by stating that he does not wish to comment on the views of the Seers.
Asked whether the decision would open Pandora’s Box with many other communities could start raising demand for welfare boards, Patil asserted that nothing wrong in any community making such demand.
“After all, the job of the government is to provide benefits to all castes and communities. Any community which needs welfare schemes for their development should be given the opportunity by the government”, he said.
On the objection raised by some Congress leaders including Former Minister, M. B. Patil that the government has not granted funds and merely announced the formation of the Board, Patil said that it is not mandatory for the government to announce the financial aspect on the same day of announcement of Board.
“We all know that the Centre and State government are facing acute financial crises because of Covid pandemic. Here we should first welcome the decision of the government for constituting the Board. Let the financial position improve, then surely we can seek funds for the board”, he said.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
