Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha (ABVM), a representative body of Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, has criticised the alleged attempts by Maate Mahadevi of Basava Mantapa to divide the community.
In a press release here on Friday, Shamanur Shivashankarappa and Eshwar Khandre president and secretary of ABVM, respectively, alleged that Maate Mahadevi was dividing the community by terming Veerashaivism and Lingayat sect as two different entities.
ABVM, which was founded 109 years ago, is the umbrella body of Veerashaiva Lingayat community.
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Considering Vachana philosophy of 12 century revolutionary saints as sacrosanct, the community was working towards achieving equality in society.
ABVM, which conducted a convention in July 2013, appealed to the Union government to consider Veerashaiva Lingayats as a religious minority and extend the benefits accruing to the minorities, as enshrined in the Constitution.