Members of the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha on Saturday alleged that there was a conspiracy behind Water Resources and Medical Education Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s apology to the Veerashaiva community for the previous Congress government’s decision to recommend granting “religious minority” tag to the Lingayat and Veerashaiva-Lingayat (believers of Basava tatwa) community.
Addressing presspersons here, S.M. Jamdar, Mahasabha general secretary, warned of serious repercussions in the days to come if the Minister did not withdraw his statement. “Our community has been deeply hurt by his statement and we have sought his explanation as he was one of those who supported our demand prior to the elections. We do not wish to divide the State along caste lines, and if anything like that happens Mr. Shivakumar will be responsible,” Mr. Jamdar said.
He said the Mahasabha stood by the community’s ideology and was not working in favour or against any political party. “Of course, we had said we would support those who supported us, and we did that. The Lingayat movement is not the reason for the setback to the Congress in the Assembly elections. In fact, the Congress gained where our movement was intense.”
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Asserting that the Lingayat movement would be undeterred by the flip-flop of political leaders, Mr. Jamdar said, “We will continue our struggle come what may. But we are surprised at Mr. Shivakumar, being part of the Cabinet, not expressing his disapproval during the three Cabinet meetings that were held to discuss and decide on such an important issue.”
“Another startling fact is the Minister made this statement at a programme organised by the Rambhapuri seer, who had talked of a ‘dharma yudha’ (religious war) against the Congress. And this (the statement) has been welcomed by the president of Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, and BJP State chief B.S. Yedyurap pa. Are these four planning a conspiracy?” he asked.
Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami of Panchamasali Peetha and Shivarudra Swami of Beli Mutt were present.
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Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar remained firm on his statement. “I have been true to my conscience in saying that. This is neither to please any seers nor to displease any community. I have said what I felt was right,” the Congress leader said.
‘It was a collective decision’
“It was a collective decision of the Cabinet and Mr. Shivakumar was very much party to it. I do not know why he is saying this now,” said former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday in reference to Mr. Shivakumar’s apology.
“It was a collective decision of the Cabinet in which D.K. Shivakumar, M.B. Patil, Vinay Kulkarni, Basavaraj Rayaraddi, and S.S. Mallikarjun (the last four being prominent Lingayat Ministers) were present,” said Mr. Siddaramaiah.
He maintained that it was wrong to interpret that the party lost the Assembly elections as it had favoured the Lingayat demand. “There was no link between the two issues. When the government took the decision, many people welcomed it. I cannot analyse why Mr. Shivakumar has said this now,” he said.