Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil on Sunday claimed that the seer of Siddaganga Mutt, Shivakumara Swami, had expressed support for the demand for a separate religion tag for Lingayats, a demand that the government has promised to forward to the Centre if there is consensus in the community.
Mr. Patil, who has been advocating separate religion tag for the Lingayat community, met the seer after a function in Tumakuru and held discussions with him. The seer, who has been honoured with Padma Bhushan and runs several educational institutions and implements midday meal scheme for thousands of children, is an influential head of the community.
The Minister said Dr. Shivakumara Swami, who was spiritual head of the Lingayat/Veerashaiva community in the State, came out in support to the Lingayat community’s cause for separate religion.
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“Today is my happiest moment in life. The modern Basavanna (as he described Dr. Shivakumara Swami) has supported the cause for separate tag of our community,” Mr. Patil said, adding that his views were “final”. Asked whether he would consult the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha or any expert on the issue of separate religion tag for Lingayats, Mr. Patil said: “There is no need for any consultation in the future.... The 110-year-old seer is the senior most and his opinion is final.”
Among the Ministers, M.B. Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, have been advocating the separate religion tag only under the nomenclature of “Lingayat”.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister of State for Municipal Administration Eshwar Khandre and Horticulture Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, backed by the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha, are not in favour of making a distinction between “Veerashaiva” and “Lingayat”.
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The Minister refused to take questions on the matter and said the movement for separate religion tag will get further momentum in the days to come.
Mutt keeps mum
While Minister M.B. Patil claimed the support of Siddaganga Mutt seer Dr. Shivakumara Swami, the mutt did not directly spell out its stand. When contacted by The Hindu , mutt sources said Mr. Patil had visited them and had lunch with the senior seer, but refused to confirm if the seer had expressed support for the cause.
Earlier, when this correspondent had visited the mutt and spoke to the president, Siddalinga Swami, he had refused to speak on the issue to the media.