It was major embarrassment for Minister for Water Resources M.B. Patil, who has been a vocal advocate of a separate religion tag for Lingayats, with one of the prominent seers of the community denying the statements made on his behalf by the Minister.
The Minister had said that the seer of Siddhaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, Shivakumara Swami, supported the cause of a separate religion status for the community under the nomenclature “Lingayat”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, which is the first official stand spelt out by the influential mutt, the seer categorically denied Mr. Patil’s statement. “Mr. Patil’s statement to the media suggests that the seer extended his support to the use of the term ‘Lingayat’. It is not in the interest of the community to divide it. There is a need for leaders of the community to discuss and reach a consensus,” the release said.
The press release issued by the seer said that when Mr. Patil visited the mutt on September 10, they had said that while the term “Lingayat” was used in rural areas, “Veerashaiva” was used synonymously by the educated and in urban areas and both were the same. The seer expressed support for the Akhila Bharata Veerashiva Mahasabha, which is for the nomenclature of “Veerashaiva-Lingayat” and accused Mr. Patil of “misunderstanding and twisting” his statement.
Khandre with mahasabha
Soon after, office-bearers of the mahasabha, including Minister Eshwar Khandre (also secretary general of the mahasabha), national president Shamanur Shivashankarappa, and State president N. Thippanna visited the mutt and spent over 45 minutes with the seer.
In a joint press conference later, they clarified that the words of Shivakumar Swami were supreme to them and that he had said that there was no difference between the terms Lingayat and Veerashaiva. They said the seer had asked them to sit together to resolve the issue and they would soon be taking Mr. Patil into confidence to sort it out. Mr. Khandre also sought to clarify that the Chief Minister had responded to their demand for independent religion status, but had said he would endorse the demand only when the community members arrive at a consensus.
Minister stands his ground
The denial by the seer resulted in an immediate reaction from Minister M.B. Patil at Tikota in Vijayapura district. He reiterated his statement on the seer’s support for Lingayat religion. He claimed it was based on what he heard from the seer himself. “I will not make any more comments on the issue apart from what I have said before. I have told what I heard from the seer. This is the fact and there is no need for me to lie,” he said.
