MYSORE: Lashing out at the BJP for reducing the Veerashaiva Mahasabha to a party conclave, former Union minister and JD(S) leader Basavaraj Patil Yatnal warned that the BJP, in turn, would invite the wrath of other communities. "Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is facing a slew of corruption charges, has misused the support extended by Veerashaiva mutts to him. We nonBJP Veerashaiva leaders will be forced to come up with a resolution that will sound a warning to the CM," he asserted. He was addressing the press here on Monday, where he said that the community has given great leaders like Nijalingappa, Veerendra Patil and J H Patel, who contributed immensely to the development of the state.
Pointing out that Rambhapuri Swami united Yeddyurappa and BJP state president K S Eshwarappa, he appealed to the seer to mediate and ensure that Lingayat leaders, such as S Mallikarjunappa, Basavaraj Patil Sedam and B B Shivappa, are given prominent positions.
By releasing grants and funds for construction of Basava Bhavans, he said, Yeddyurappa has bribed the Veerashaiva mutts in the state.
More than 2,500 mutts have been serving the poor and imparting education to them over the decades, but the chief minister deems it fit to bribe a few mutts, he averred.
"People have now realised why H D Deve Gowda was dead against B S Yeddyurappa becoming the chief minister of the state. Why was the Mahasabha silent when the former chief ministers Nijalingappa and Veerendra Patil were in trouble," the former minister added.