Passing a resolution demanding that the State government recommend to the Union Government the issue of recognition of Lingayat as religion, a Lingayat rally here on Sunday also gave an open call to anti-Lingayat religion campaigners to join the movement by shedding differences.
Addressing the rally at the Ambedkar District Stadium here, prominent political leaders M.B. Patil, Basavaraj Horatti, Vinay Kulkarni, Sharanprakash Patil and retired IAS officer S.M. Jamdar and several seers reiterated that their fight would continue till their demand for religion status is met.
Though in their speeches, the leaders invited the anti-Lingayat seers to join them and stop opposing the campaign, they warned the seers that they would face public anger if they continued to oppose the demand.
In his address, president of the campaign and Janata Dal(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti said that the agitation was apolitical and was aimed at only getting Lingayat recognition as religion.
Accusing some seers of sabotaging the campaign by spreading canards, he said that the organisation now has complete historical records to prove its claim that Lingayat was never part of Hindu religion.
Mr. Jamdar said that while the seers and BJP leaders in Maharashtra were supporting the demand, a few seers and BJP leaders in Karnataka are opposing it.
“It is surprising that the BJP leaders of two different States having different views on Lingayat. Let me make it very clear that if the seers and BJP leaders in Karnataka continue to oppose us, then we will expose them with solid and substantial historical records to prove that Lingayats were never Hindus,” he said.
Mr. Jamdar said that some of the saffron-clad seers were misleading the people by calling Veerashaivas and Lingayats as being one and the same. “People should be aware of such seers as they are telling lies,” he said.
‘High-pitched address’
In his high-pitched address, Avinsha Goshikar, a prominent leader from Maharashtra demanding religion tag for Lingayat, asked whether the seers who are opposing the campaign were Hindus or Lingayats.
“If you call yourself Hindu, then better leave our mutts as we will not consider you as our spiritual leaders any more. I will also urge people to ask the seers what they call themselves. If they call themselves Hindus, then ask them to leave our mutts immediately,” he said.
Mr. Patil said that they were not against Hindus or Veerashaivas but were only supporters of Lingayat religion.
Hoping that the State and Union governments would consider their demand, he, however, said that in case of rejection, they would go to Supreme Court as a last resort.
Meanwhile, Mr. Horatti said that several BJP leaders from the Lingayat community, including the former Minister Umesh Katti, were emotionally with them in the campaign.
He said that because of the BJP’s agenda to oppose Lingayat rallies, such leaders were not supporting them [those seeking religion tag] openly. “They are supporting us indirectly by sending their people to the rallies. We welcome all such people if they come out openly in support of our cause,” Mr. Horatti said.
