Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar questions seer’s claim that 80% Panchamasalis are with BJP

To a query on whether seers should make political comments, she said they were welcome to guide State policy. “They could give us feedback when we make mistakes. But there should be a limit to it,” she said.

Minister of Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar has questioned the claim by Sri Basava Jaya Mrutyunjay Swami of Kudalsangam peetha that over 80% of Panchamasalis are with the BJP.

Ms. Hebbalkar, a Panchamasali Lingayat leader, said, “I felt very bad about it. Being a Congress leader, I joined the Panchamasali reservation agitation committee as we perceived it was a non-political agitation. Also, in this case, the seer is misinformed. The Panchamasali community has supported the Congress in large numbers. The success of several Congress candidates, including those in reserved constituencies, is proof of my claim.”

To a query on whether seers should make political comments, she said they were welcome to guide State policy. “They could give us feedback when we make mistakes. But there should be a limit to it,” she said.

She denied allegations of a scam in the Energy Department’s procurement of smart meters. “Energy Minister K.J. George has given an answer to this question on the floor of the House. BJP leaders are making allegations as they have no other job. Their job is to make false allegations against the government. There is no scam in the tender process, or anywhere else. A company that has won tenders in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (both ruled by BJP) has won the tender in Karnataka,” she said.

“The hike in milk prices will benefit farmers. The ₹4 increase will go directly to farmers. It will benefit farmers as the KMF will not keep this money,” Ms. Hebbalkar said.

She conveyed her best wishes to Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been expelled from the BJP, for his efforts in forming a new regional party in Karnataka.

“I have nothing to say about Basanagouda Patil’s political choices. But I will convey my best wishes to his new party if he were to launch it,” she said in Belagavi on March 30.