Bengaluru: The shadow-boxing and indirect taunts between Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and his predecessor, Siddharamaiah over various issues in the coalition government has now acquired a caste colour with Seers of communities to which the two leaders belong to — Vokkaliga and Kuruba — taking sides.

A day after the Vokkaliga Seer of Spatikapuri Mahasamsthana Mutt, Nanjavadhutha Swamiji warned of a backlash from the community if any attempt was made to pull down the coalition government, Kuruba Seer, Niranjanananda Puri Swamiji of Kanaka Gurupeetha of Kaginele came out in open support of former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, who has kicked up a row over the presentation of a fresh budget.

Launching an attack on Kumaraswamy while speaking to reporters in Davanagere yesterday, the Seer likened Siddharamaiah to a ram who takes a step backward to attack its opponent. “An aggressive ram takes a step backward to attack its opponent with more vigour and vengeance. Its going back does not mean that it is defeated. Like a ram in the battlefield, Siddharamaiah too has taken a step backward and he will attack with renewed vigour,” he said.  

Maintaining that the former Chief Minister’s silence should not be construed as acceptance of defeat after the Congress’ poor show in the Assembly elections, he said, “Siddharamaiah is like a ram, which has taken one step back, but will bounce back against any opponent if injustice is done to Kurubas.”

The Seer alleged that Kuruba officials were being tortured by the State government as an act of revenge against Siddharamaiah and claimed that he had received many complaints from top officials from the community that they were being transferred without postings.

He said Kurubas would launch a protest if these officials continued to be targeted. He also warned AICC President Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Congress in-charge K.C. Venugopal of dire consequences in the Lok Sabha elections if they sidelined Siddharamaiah.

Taking a dig at Kumaraswamy, the Seer said “he was not a Chief Minister of only Vokkaliga community” but of the entire State. He also pointed out that no Kuruba community leader from the Congress had been given representation in the State Cabinet and the community “would not tolerate further injustice.”

“Kumaraswamy should treat all castes equally. The coalition government has a good future if it pursues politics of harmony among all castes. Otherwise, it will have to face the Kurubas’ anger,” he added.