Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, March 13: As the countdown has begun for Karnataka Assembly elections, various communities have begun to take a final call for fulfilling their demands.

The Bunt community, a major deciding factor of votes has also presented its demands under the aegis of the Federation of World Bunts associations and has been pressurising the government.

In an exclusive chat with Daijiworld Udupi studios’ ‘Udupi Politics’, Jayakar Shetty Indrali, honorary president of Udupi Bunts’ Association and secretary of Federation of World Associatons of Bunts shares the demands of the community and the road map ahead.

DW: Is there any possibility of Bunts Federation entering politics?

Jayakar Shetty: Bunt Federation is not in the news because of its entry into politics. Politics has no discrimination between Bunts, Billavas and Mogaveera. Anyone can enter politics.

Constitution has provided equal opportunity for everyone to participate in politics and its activities. But Bunts Federation has now begun a political agitation and that is the fact. There are many individuals from the Bunts community in politics from a long time.

DW: What are the demands of the Bunt Federation before the government?

Jayakar Shetty: Federation of World Bunts associations is functioning worldwide and it has its presence in most of the nations, states and districts. Through this federation we have been involved in various social activities.

In the past 3-4 years after Aikala Harish Shetty took over as chairman of the federation we have collected and distributed Rs 14-15 crore for the needy. The federation has also built houses for the people of the community who were living in much dilapidated houses.

Meanwhile, we have extended our support for people of other communities as well. Around two and half years ago our community raised a demand before the government to establish ‘Bunt Development Corporation’ and an appeal letter of the same was also given to chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Another demand of the community was to add Bunts under 2A category. Chief minister and ministers had assured us of fulfilling these demands. But at present the government has already completed its budget session and the elections are also nearing. But there is no mention of our demands. After all of these developments now we have moved forward in another way with our demands.

DW: You have submitted the memorandum before the government three years ago, then why has the agitation begun now just before the elections?

Jayakar Shetty : Many people have asked this question. Honorable chief minister of our state Bommai had assured us of fulfilling our demands so we waited with eagerness. This might be our mistake also. But our community leaders respected his words and waited patiently. This was the last budget of the current government, but still our demands were not fulfilled which made us realise the need for an agitation. This is not an agitation eyed at the timing of the elections.

We had placed our demands before CM Basavaraj Bommai in 2020 itself. We have even pressurised him upon this issue. One thing is clear. This is neither an election-eyed agitation nor a way to enter into politics. There are no instances where self-esteemed Bunts have placed any demands before the government just ahead of the elections.

DW: Bunts are regarded as rich and elite. But why are you demanding reservation for the community?

Jayakar Shetty: Everyone thinks of the same in general. There was a time when our ancestors depended upon agricultural activities, and were leaders of their town. But today it’s not like that.

Only 10% of our total population is rich and the remaining 90% are still poor or middle-class. This is the main reason for our agitation to add Bunts under the 2A category.

We have built around 222 houses just in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district and still another 300 people have filed applications. Every month Federation of World Bunts Federation spends around Rs 40 lac for the medical needs of the community. These examples are enough to prove not all the Bunts are rich.

Bunts have self-respect they never beg before anyone. They might live without food but they will not beg for alms before anyone.

DW: There are people’s representatives from the Bunt community. Hasn’t the federation approached them with these demands?

Jayakar Shetty : No Bunt MLA should forget that they are Bunts in the first case. They cannot deny the fact they are not born in Bunt community. They are MLA’s and they have not won just because of the Bunt votes. This is also agreeable. But being the representatives of the Bunt community, they should have fought for the communities demands before the government. A MLA, a MP, and even the state president of a national party belongs to the Bunt community. If they had some will…

We feel happy when other communities get facilities. But the representatives should have a will that at least 10% of the total facilities given to other communities should be extended to people of their own community as well.

DW: “Bunt community is capable of defeating the winning candidates, and make the losers win”. Is this true?

Jayakar Shetty : This is true. Our community voters are not just restricted to this state alone. They are widespread and live in various parts of the nation and world as well. Our agitation and our demands are supported by the global Bunt community. They have supported wholeheartedly.

Many have also assured that they will come to their native during elections. They are ready to support any national political party which will fulfill the demands of the community. We still hope that our demands will be met.

Let’s wait and see. If not before the elections, we hope to see these demands are added in the manifesto of the national political parties and fulfill it when they come to power. Meetings have been chaired under the leadership of Aikala Harish Shetty in Mumbai, Kolhapur and other places with the Bunt community to chalk out the road map of our agitation if our demands are not met.

We are ready to defeat any political party which may not hear our demands. So we are ready to support any political party which assures us ‘in writing’ to fulfill our demands. There are instances in which our community has funded political leaders and has helped to win the elections.MP from Maharashtra state Gopal Shetty has also extended his complete support to us.

DW: Till now it was known that elections were happening based on caste. But Bunt community has jumped directly into this. Why?

Jayakar Shetty : People from Bunt community are present in all the political parties and especially in national political parties there are instances where independent candidates had also competed from the community. It is true that today elections are fought on caste basis. As a citizen I oppose this practice.

In a republican state everyone has a chance to be in power if the candidate is capable. Vote should be given based on capability of the candidate and not on basis of caste even the candidate is incapable.

DW: Is there any plan of fielding an independent Bunt candidate in the upcoming elections?

Jayakar Shetty : There is no question that an independent Bunt candidate should not be fielded for the election contest. But based on the response from the political parties our national level community leaders will decide our road map for the agitation.

DW: Have you been invited by any political party to join them?

Jayakar Shetty : National political parties have invited me to join and that is true. But I am not willing to enter into politics at this moment. I am very much happy in the cooperative movement. I have no opponents at present. I participate in the programmes of Muslims, Christians and others also. I have gained much love and affection from people of all the religions.

If I enter politics, I have to be opponent of a party, I don’t like that to happen. To do social service you don’t need to be in a political party. I have been involved in many socially oriented organisations and I am involved in many social activities through donating part of my income from the past four decades and I am happy with that. Many have asked me about joining politics. Time changes, as time flies a person’s wishes may also change, I am not able to comment anything about the future, but at this moment is concerned I am not ready to contest in the forthcoming elections.

I have an indebtedness towards the Bunt community. Being a leader of Bunt community, it becomes my responsibility to support the community in every way. We had submitted a memorandum during the Kumaraswamy government as well. This has been a continued effort from the past seven years. Our fight will continue till our demands are met.

DW: Will the Bunt community support the Bunt candidates contesting upcoming elections?

Jayakar Shetty : More than the Bunt candidate there comes the candidates capability. Giving tickets is left to the high commands of the respective parties. In some cases, there may be chances that a capable candidate might not get the ticket/seat. Depending upon the candidate and the constituency our national leaders will decide upon extending support to the Bunt candidate.

Bunt community at every level will follow the decision made by the national level community leaders. It might be difficult for us to make any candidate
win but it is very easy for us to defeat them. But if we do not pressurise our demands they won’t get fulfilled.

DW: Are there any plans of floating a new party?

Jayakar Shetty : I have already made it clear that at this moment I won’t be entering politics. I have gained support of the people and not money from cooperative sector. Even today an individual believes that the electoral system is not the right path. Giving and taking money for votes is completely wrong. My request to the people not to sell their votes just for Rs 500 or Rs 1000. We should know the worth of our votes. Select a capable
candidate and give justice to your votes. We should change ourselves first.

DW: Are you happy with the performance of the current government?

Jayakar Shetty : The present government has done a good job. There were more opportunities for taking up development as we have seen a great amount realised in GST collections and taxes. Development should not be considered just based on pressurisation. Development should take place everywhere.

DW: Will the 30 lac Bunt population be the deciding factor in the upcoming elections?

Jayakar Shetty : We have presented our demands before the government and even they have given us assurance of fulfillment of our demands. Our community leaders at the national level will decide the road map ahead. Bunt population is spread across the globe. Bunt MLA and MPs are elected even in Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu. The community will abide by the decisions of the national level leaders.

Watch the full interview here: