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A crucial Karnataka Cabinet meeting that were to discuss the religion tag for Lingayats has been postponed.
The Chief Minister’s office claimed Siddaramaiah postponed the meeting as he was indisposed. But political circles insisted that a difference of opinion on the issue resulted in the putting off the Cabinet meet.
The previous meet of the Cabinet, held on March 8, could not come to a conclusion on the issue because of differences between ministers belonging to the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha and the Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha.
While the section led by Veerashaiva Mahasabha has been demanding a separate religion status, asserting that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are the same, Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha has been contending for special status only for Lingayats as it believes that Veerashaivasare are one among the seven sects of Shaivas, which is part of Hinduism.
Of late, some Lingayats have also stated that they were open to having the Veerashaivas under their umbrella, but the Lingayat nomenclature was non-negotiable.
The Lingayat/Veerashaiva community that owes allegiance to the 12th century social reform movement initiated by Basaveshwara has a substantial population in Karnataka, especially in north Karnataka.
Wednesday’s Cabinet meet had to take a decision on considering Lingayat/Veerashaiva as a separate religion, accepting the recommendation of an expert committee and the Karnataka State Minorities Commission.
BJP cautious
The BJP and several sections of the Hindu community have maintained a cautious stance, keeping away from the move to declare Lingayat/Veerashaiva as a separate religion.
Former minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, a dominant Congress leader, on Sunday night met Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa, who has been opposing granting separate religious status to Lingayats.
This has set off speculation that there is some kind of bonhomie between some of the Congress Lingayat leaders who are opposed to separate religion status and BJP leaders.
Report
In December 2017, the Karnataka government constituted a seven-member expert committee to examine the demand for a separate religion tag for Lingayats.
The committee said in the report: “Lingayats in Karnataka may be considered as a religious minority. Veerashaivas, who consider Basavanna as dharma guru, and believe in vachanas as a sacred text and wear Ishta Linga, may be considered as Lingayats.”
The committee also recommended that the State government “request the Centre to declare Lingayats as a religious minority.”
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