We always quarrel like this, says MB Patil after being asked to leave by Mallikarjun

Davanagere: Congress MLA Shamnur Shivashankara and former minister S S Mallikarjun lashed out a Home minister MB Patil for speaking in favour of separate religion status for the Lingayat community.

MB Patil was invited to Congress MLA Shamnur Shivashankara’s house in Davanagere for lunch on Wednesday, March 6. As soon as Patil entered the house, Mallikarjun vented his anger at the minister, saying: “What do you know about our family? Why did you speak about my father? Just because you are a minister, it does not give you the right to say anything. Leave.” 

Meanwhile, Shivashankarappa intervened and brought the situation under control, informed sources. However, MB Patil had lunch with the family.

When questioned about the incident MB Patil casually said that “We always speak like this and quarrel. Mallikarjun and I are like brothers.” 

It may be recalled that during the tenure of the previous government, Lingayat ministers in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet were split on the separate religion issue. While Patil was at the forefront of demanding religious minority tag for Lingayats, Mallikarjun, who was also in the cabinet — he lost the 2018 assembly polls — had opposed it.