Lingayat seers criticise Amit Shah

The Forum of Lingayat seers on Saturday criticised BJP national president Amit Shah for his statements against separate religion status to Lingayats.
BJP chief Amit Shah (File | PTI)
BJP chief Amit Shah (File | PTI)

BENGALURU: The Forum of Lingayat seers on Saturday criticised BJP national president Amit Shah for his statements against separate religion status to Lingayats. But the seers were careful not to antagonise Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The forum has now urged the PM to approve minority religion status to Lingayats.

“PM Modi has unveiled a statue of Basavanna in London. He has honoured Basavanna by reciting Vachanas in Parliament. He knows the greatness of Basavanna and we urge that he recognises Lingayats are a religious minority. We appeal to the PM to give us a gift on April 18- Basava Jayanti,” prominent Lingayat seer Mathe Mahadevi appealed.

The seers distanced themselves from the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha-- the entity that has claimed to be the front for Veerashaiva- Lingayats. The move essentially puts the BJP on the backfoot.
The BJP has in the past claimed to stand by any decision made by the Veerashaiva Mahasabha.
With Lingayat seers now distancing themselves from the forum,  the BJP may lose massive support of the followers of Lingayat mutts.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com