The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar condemned the State government’s move to recommend granting of minority religion status for Lingayat to the Centre and alleged that it is Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s game plan to create division in society to gain political mileage.
Mr. Shettar said entire issue was the brainchild of Mr. Siddaramaiah and the government’s move would not benefit anyone.
The Justice Nagamohan Das Committee was a government-sponsored arrangement. The committee has not taken the opinion of two groups favouring and opposing the separate religion status for the Lingayat. Even the opinion of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha – that is the representative body of the community set up nearly 100 years ago – was ignored. Though the committee sought six months to submit its report, the government compelled it to submit the report within two months, he said.
Further Mr. Shettar pointed out that the entire drama unfolded with the demand of according separate religion status to Lingayat which constitutionally was not possible. Now, the government has decided to recommend for the minority status. The issue would die on its own after the Assembly elections, he said.
