M B Patil says without fund allocation, mere announcement carries no worth
BENGALURU; Nov 17: In a significant move that is seen to appease the dominant Linagayat/Veerashaiva community of the State, the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has announced to constitute a welfare board for the community.
Recently several leaders of the community and his cabinet colleagues had met the CM urging him to constitute one such Board for welfare of the community.
In a statement issued by the CM’s office on Tuesday, it was stated that a decision to constitute “Veerashaiva Lingayath Development Board” has been taken to look into the overall welfare of the people belonging to the community who constitute over 16 to 18 per cent of the State’s population.
The board will start functioning with immediate effect, the statement said.
The demand for setting up of the board, had gained ground after the state government had announced to constitute a Maratha development board, to serve the interests of the Maratha speaking people in the state.
The state government, recently, had also announced to constitute Golla (Yadava) Development Authority prior to the Sira by-elections in the State.
Meanwhile reactions have also come from different quarters for the announcement.
While BJP leaders of the community and other communities have welcomed the decision, Former Minister and influential Lingayat leader, M. B. Patil has raised objections over the ‘hasty’ announcement.
He has said that the government has though announced to constitute the Board, however there is no mention of funds to be allocated for the purpose.
“ Considering over 1.25 crore population of Lingayats in the State which is around 16 % of the total population, the government should grant at least Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 crore for the development of the community. Without making any financial allocation, what is the point in issuing the letter that carries no value”, he said.
He said that he would have welcomed the decision of the government if it had allocated a substantial quantum of funds proportionate to the population of the community.
Referring to the government decision of allocating Rs. 50 crore for the development of Maratha community in the State, Patil wondered why the government made no mention of financial allocation for the welfare of Lingayat community and did the same job in case of Maratha community.
