Hours after the State Cabinet decided to accord religious minority status to Lingayats, two groups — one welcoming the decision and the other opposing it — clashed in Kalaburagi on Monday.
M.S. Patil Naribol, president of Pejavara Sri Sene (PSS), was allegedly thrashed by a mob during the clash. The police intervened and took a few members from both sides into custody.
Members of the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM), who have been on an indefinite agitation for the past couple of weeks demanding religion status for Lingayats, began to celebrate at Jagat Circle by bursting crackers soon after the Cabinet decision and took out a procession.
By the time they reached SVP Circle, a few members of the PSS, an outfit that has been opposing the religion tag demand, were staging a protest at the circle opposing the Cabinet decision. They were found burning copies of the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee report that recommended minority religion status to Lingayats. They also waved slippers at the JLM members.
Infuriated, the JLM activists got into an argument with the group. Things soon took a violent turn, with PSS leader Naribol in particular targeted. “Everybody has the freedom of expression. But Mr. Naribol and his associates crossed all limits by using foul language and brandishing slippers,” said Shabadi, a leader of JLM.
Mr. Naribol said, “India is a democratic country and we have the freedom of speech. It is true that we waved slippers during our agitation to register our protest. But we cannot be attacked for that. Our activists from different parts of the district are coming tomorrow and we will decide on the future course of action then.”
Superintendent of Police N. Shashikumar said no case has been filed yet. “We have taken five or six people into custody on the charges of disturbing vehicular movement and peace in a public place,” he said.
