The Lingayat community is a politically dominating group in Karnataka though they comprise 17 percent of the population.
A criminal defamation case has been filed against Karnataka’s former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by activist Shankar Sheth at a Magistrate Court in Bengaluru on April 25. The case was filed for insulting the Lingayat community in Karnataka. The petition was accepted by the court and will be heard on April 29 at Additional chief metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court.
The complaint has been filed under section 190(1), 200, 202, 203 and section 204 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
This comes after Siddaramaiah’s comment made in reference to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He commented, “There is already a Lingayat CM and he has indulged in corruption and ruined the state.”
The statement was made before media when he was campaigning for General Assembly Elections in Varuna Constituency. A video clip of that interview went viral. Siddaramaiah was asked about his views on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) batting for a Lingayat as the next chief minister of the state. The interview was telecast live by a Kannada news channel on April 22.
BJP alleges that the comment has insulted the Lingayat community in the state. The Lingayat community is a politically dominated group that constitutes about 17 percent of the population in Karnataka.
BJP’s official Karnataka handle shared the clip accusing Siddaramaiah of making “insensitive and hateful remarks.” He also calledthe entire community corrupt. BJP tweeted “This is unpardonable. The seven crore Kannadigas who follow the ideals of Jagadguru Basavanna will never forgive him.”
Shankar Sheth, who filed the complaint said, “Instead of criticising the work of one person, he’s criticising the entire community of Lingayats saying that anyone from this community is corrupt.” He added, “With all due respect, say anything you want but don’t bring the Lingayat community into such matters.”
As reported on Sunday Bommai said, “Everybody knows that any Lingayat CM or minister, or of any other community, will perform based on their abilities. Any shortcomings will be at his (minister’s) individual level. But, calling an entire community is hurtful.”
Siddaramaiah clarified that his words are being twisted by BJP to portray him as anti-Lingayat for political gains. He said, “I said Basavaraj Bommai is corrupt. I did not call the entire community corrupt.”
