Bengaluru, Feb 15: Rebel BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, his son B Y Vijayendra, the BJP state vice president, were making a systematic attempt to divide the dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat community for their political gain.

"Whenever Yediyurappa gets an indication from the top that there is a threat to his chair (position), he uses the Veerashaiva-Lingayat issue for his benefit.

His son (Vijayendra) too does so on similar lines.

They have the ill-intention of not granting OBC status to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community," Yatnal told reporters in Tumakuru.

He alleged that Vijayendra and Minister Murugesh Nirani were trying to systematically divide the community and said they would never succeed.

Yatnal has often been taking part in the agitation by Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami of Kudalsangama mutt for OBC (2A category) status to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.

The seer last week started on a padayatra from Kudalasangama to Bengaluru to press for the demand and is supported by various seers and leaders of the Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities.

Yatnal alleged that Yediyurappa, a Lingayat himself, was not keen on granting 2A status to the community.

The Vijayapura MLA said no government order has been issued or a gazette notification published on the OBC-2A status to the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community.

To a question on the show cause notice issued by the BJP high command for speaking against the Chief Minister and others, he said he was yet to receive it.

He alleged that issuing the notice was part of a false propaganda to stop other BJP MLAs from speaking.

Yatnal has been up in arms against the Chief Minister and his son Vijayendra and has even said that Yediyurappa would be 'removed' from his position shortly.

Yatnal's outburst against the CM intensified after the cabinet expansion when he was not included in it,despite being a senior party functionary and a former union minister.

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.

Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.

In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.

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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.

According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.

"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.

The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.