Plans to Change leadership in Karnataka an RSS conspiracy: Sri Sangana Basava Swami

Bengaluru: Amid continued speculation of leadership change in Karnataka, a Lingayat seer, Sri Sangana Basava Swami of Kottur Veerashaiva Shivayoga Mandir, Wednesday alleged “an RSS conspiracy” behind the plans to remove Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Speaking to reporters in Hospet, Sri Basava Swami said “RSS is a caste-based organisation” and has no “liberal-minded” leaders. “We know what happened in Maharashtra. Millions of Maratha youth worked hard and brought the BJP to power. But RSS leaders made Devendra Fadnavis, a Brahmin, the CM of Maharashtra.

Then the party lost the sympathy of the Maratha community and was defeated. There are reports that RSS wants to replace Yediyurappa with Pralhad Joshi, the Union minister for mines. But that will not work. If the BJP replaces Yediyurappa, it will have to lose its existence in Karnataka. This will only benefit the Congress or JD(S),” the seer said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of several Lingayat seers and other religious leaders, led by Sri Siddalinga Swami of Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur, met Yediyurappa at his official residence, urging him to complete his term as chief minister.