BJP leader and Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda’s decision to inaugurate a conference of Lingayat organisations that had been fighting for an independent religion status to Lingayats was strongly condemned by Veerashaiva-Lingayat Swabhimanigala Balaga, a community outfit that had been taking a contrary stand on the issue.
Addressing a media conference here on Thursday, M.S. Patil Naribol and Divya Hagaragi, president and head of women’s wing respectively, said that Mr. Sadananda Gowda’s decision was contrary to his party stand and sought clarification from him and the party leadership.
“BJP State unit president has time and again clarified that he and his party is in agreement with Ahkila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha’s stand on the issue. The Veerashaiva Mahasabha has held that both Veerashiavas and Lingayats are one and the same and taken a clear stand against according independent religion status to Lingayats alone. Now, Mr. Sadananda Gowda is going to inaugurate a conference organised in Delhi by Mate Mahadevi-led Lingayat organisations for demanding independent religion status to Lingayats. We strongly condemn it and seek an explanation,” Mr. Naribol said.
Ms. Hagaragi said that her organisation would mobilise community members if Mr. Gowda doesn’t step back from his decision. She also attacked Mate Mahadevi for “misleading” Mr. Gowda.
Holding that minority religion status to the community would help only the Lingayat education institutions and not the community members as a whole, both Mr. Naribol and Ms. Hagaragi demanded reservations to economically weaker sections within the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
“We don’t want minority religion status to our community. The government should consider offering reservations to economically weaker sections in the community as recently offered to the Maratha community,” they said.
They also announced that a community rally would be held in Kalaburagi on Saturday to put pressure on the government over their demands. “Over 100 seers would take part in the agitation,” Mr. Naribol said.
