Lingayats to be given ‘religious minority’ tag

In a significant move ahead of the Assembly elections, the State Cabinet on Monday decided to accord “religious minority” recognition to Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats who follow the philosophy of 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara. The Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre to notify the status under the Central Minority Commission Act.

The religious minority tag will come into effect after the Centre notifies it. The Cabinet note emphasised that the decision would not affect the benefits being made available to other religious and linguistic minorities in the State.

This would mean that the Lingayats would not get any additional reservation in government jobs besides what they are already entitled to under the backward classes quota. However, the tag would benefit those running educational institutions in many ways, including exemption from providing RTE quota.

Briefing presspersons, Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the new religion would be named “Lingayat Dharma”.

The State government would issue a notification on according minority religion recognition under Section 2 (D) of the Karnataka State Minorities Act. Then it will be forwarded to the Centre for notifying under Section 2 (C) of the Central Minorities Act.

Lingayat leaders and seers described the decision as “historic”, while a section of Veerashaiva seers who have been strongly opposing the move called it “divisive”. Kalaburagi saw a clash between the two factions within hours of the Cabinet decision.