Belagavi: The elections for Belagavi Lok Sabha reached to an interesting level with the former minister Murugesh Nirani alleging that the women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar is lying about her caste just for votes. Nirani said Hebbalkar and her son Mrinal, the Congress candidate for Belgaum LS seat, do not belong to the dominant Lingayat Panchamasali community but are Banajigas.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here on Monday, Nirani clarified that Laxmi belongs to the Hattiholi family in Khanapur taluk.Hattiholi family is Panchamasali. However, Laxmi married Ravindra Hebbalkar, who is from the Banajiga community. Thus, after marriage, Laxmi’s caste changed to Banajiga. With the same logic, Mrinal, the son of Ravindra and Laxmi Hebbalkar also is a Banajiga, he detailed.
Recently, Hebbalkar made a statement that ‘the blood of Rani Channamma flows in me and my son Mrinal’. Taking objection to her statement, Murugesh Nirani said: “No one should equate themselves with a great warrior like Channamma, who fought against the British. Just because you have become a minister, don’t consider yourself equal to Channamma.”
Nirani also recalled that, during the movement for the 2A category to Panchamasalis around a year ago, Hebbalkar had told me from the stage that, if the BJP government gave 2A reservation to Panchamasalis, she would felicitate him with sweet kunda from Belagavi. If not, the Congress government would do it within three months after forming the government in the state.
“We (BJP) government did not give 2A status to Panchamasali community. We created 2C and 2D new categories without disturbing 2A. But it is almost a year since the Congress govt has come to power in the state. Still, the Panchamasali community has not been given 2A reservation. I want to know how many times she raised her voice for the community in the house. If Hebbalkar has any concerns about Panchamasalis, she should resign from the ministerial post and stand by her words. If she succeeds, I am ready to facilitate her with a golden bangle,” Nirani said.
Nirani also countered Hebbalkar’s ‘outsider’ allegation against Jagadish Shettar. He said Hebbalkar isn’t local but from Khanapur taluk, which falls in Uttara Kannada LS constituency. “Being an outsider herself, it is not fair to point fingers at Shettar,” he said.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here on Monday, Nirani clarified that Laxmi belongs to the Hattiholi family in Khanapur taluk.Hattiholi family is Panchamasali. However, Laxmi married Ravindra Hebbalkar, who is from the Banajiga community. Thus, after marriage, Laxmi’s caste changed to Banajiga. With the same logic, Mrinal, the son of Ravindra and Laxmi Hebbalkar also is a Banajiga, he detailed.
Recently, Hebbalkar made a statement that ‘the blood of Rani Channamma flows in me and my son Mrinal’. Taking objection to her statement, Murugesh Nirani said: “No one should equate themselves with a great warrior like Channamma, who fought against the British. Just because you have become a minister, don’t consider yourself equal to Channamma.”
Nirani also recalled that, during the movement for the 2A category to Panchamasalis around a year ago, Hebbalkar had told me from the stage that, if the BJP government gave 2A reservation to Panchamasalis, she would felicitate him with sweet kunda from Belagavi. If not, the Congress government would do it within three months after forming the government in the state.
“We (BJP) government did not give 2A status to Panchamasali community. We created 2C and 2D new categories without disturbing 2A. But it is almost a year since the Congress govt has come to power in the state. Still, the Panchamasali community has not been given 2A reservation. I want to know how many times she raised her voice for the community in the house. If Hebbalkar has any concerns about Panchamasalis, she should resign from the ministerial post and stand by her words. If she succeeds, I am ready to facilitate her with a golden bangle,” Nirani said.
Nirani also countered Hebbalkar’s ‘outsider’ allegation against Jagadish Shettar. He said Hebbalkar isn’t local but from Khanapur taluk, which falls in Uttara Kannada LS constituency. “Being an outsider herself, it is not fair to point fingers at Shettar,” he said.
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Arabhavi and Gokak MLAs endorse Jagadish Shettar, boosting his campaign amid opposition. Local leaders rally behind Shettar, countering Hebbalkar’s claims. Shettar emphasizes work for Belagavi, supported by Jarkiholi brothers, intensifying the electoral contest in the constituency.
Arabhavi and Gokak MLAs endorse Jagadish Shettar, boosting his campaign amid opposition. Local leaders rally behind Shettar, countering Hebbalkar’s claims. Shettar emphasizes work for Belagavi, supported by Jarkiholi brothers, intensifying the electoral contest in the constituency.