The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has no objection to a separate religion that includes Veerashaiva-Lingayats, VHP State secretary Gopal Hegde, also known as Gopalji, said in Belagavi on Saturday.
He said that VHP would consider such a religion as “one of us” as VHP has great regard towards all religions founded in India, he told presspersons.
VHP was opposed to the State organising Tipu Sultan Jayanti as it considered him a “communal tyrant.” “We have no respect for someone who is not tolerant towards other religions. Tipu indulged in forceful mass conversions of Hindus and killed several thousands of non-Muslim citizens. This is not acceptable,” he said.
Dharma Samsad
The VHP will organise a three-day ‘Dharma Samsad’ in Udupi on November 24, 25 and 26. Over 2,000 saints, seers and heads of mutts will participate. They will deliberate on issues such as caste and gender bias, religious freedom, Acts to protect cows, conversions and the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya.
“We have invited heads of Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, Veerashaiva and Lingayat sects too,” Mr. Hegde said.
