Seeking independent religion status for Veerashaiva/Lingayat and condemning the derogatory statements against the seer of Rambhapuri Peetha Sri Veerasomeshwara Swami, a large number of people took out a protest march in Hubballi on Tuesday.
Starting from the mutt (Panchacharya Punyashram) at Yallapur Oni near Bankapur Chowk, the protesters, mainly followers of the faith, marched through Desai Oni, Simpi Galli, Sarafgatti, Durgad Bail, Broadway, Dajibanpet, Kittur Chennamma Circle, before reaching the Mini Vidhana Soudha where they staged a demonstration.
Leaders of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, including the former MLA G.S. Gaddadevarmath, Prakash Bendigeri and Prakash Luthimath, alleged that vested interests were trying to split the community by making derogatory statements. They also sought action against those who were speaking against the Pancha Peethas.
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They said that it was wrong to bring in politics in religion and alleged that some leaders were deliberately doing it keeping in mind the forthcoming elections.
Seers of various Veerashaiva Peethas, including those at Mukti Mandir, Sulla, Shirakol, Amminabhavi, Kalghatgi, Bankapur, Morab, Byahatti and Kundgol, took part in the agitation and condemned in strong words the attempts to create a divide in Veerashaiva/Lingayat, which, they said, had a history of thousands of years. They also blamed the heads of a few mutts for confusing the people with their statements.
They said that a convention of Veerashaiva/Lingayat would be held in Hubballi soon to sensitise the followers of the faith. Subsequently, led by the seers, the protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister seeking action against trouble-mongers and also steps to get independent religion status for Veerashaiva/Lingayat.
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