HUBBALLI: The Lingayat rally held in Hubballi on Sunday to exert pressure on the state and Central governments to accord a separate religion status to Lingayats became a stage for confrontation with the Veerashaivas.
Basavajaya Mrityunjaya Swamiji of Koodalasanagama Panchamasali Mutt was vitriolic while speaking about Veerashaivas and their religious heads. He, however, later tried to pacify the agitating Veerashaivas saying that his words were misinterpreted,“My intention was not to hurt anybody. My speech and words were projected in a different manner. Lingayats have one Guru while Veerashaiva have five Gurus was the meaning behind the statement,” he said.
While explaining the importance of getting a separate religion tag for Lingayat, the swamiji said Veerashaivas are creating problems in getting the status.“Lingayats are not Hindus. Lingayat is a separate religion and some vested interests are trying to project Lingayats as part of Hindus, which is not true,” he said.
MLC Basavaraj Horatti condemned Dingaleshwar Swamiji of Balehosur Mutt, who had recently stated that both Lingayat and Veerashaiva are same “We know who is Dingaleshwar Swamiji. He even tried to become the seer of Moorusavira Mutt through illegal ways,” he alleged.
He said the Veerashaiva Mahasabha should join hands with them under one umbrella of Lingayats to exert pressure on the government for minority tag.
“Some leaders are levelling false charges to divide the community, fearing that their political future will be jeopardised. There is no politics involved in separating Lingayat from Veerashaiva and we are ready to take together all those who are ready follow the principles of Basavanna. It is very essential for Veerashaiva leaders to join hands with Lingayats to uplift the downtrodden people within the community,” Horatti said.
The Lingayat seers demanded that the state government take a proper decision by December-end to send a recommendation to the Union government to accord a separate religion tag to Lingayat. They asked the ministers, who were present at the convention, to put pressure on the government.
They said the government should not make any further delay in sending recommendation to the Centre. It should be sent before the announcement of assembly elections, they added.
Minister M B Patil said the struggle for a separate religion tag is not new. Quoting RSS leader S Ramanna’s statement, he called upon Lingayats, who are attached to BJP and RSS, to come out from those organisations if they have any self-respect.Minister Vinay Kulkarni said Lingayats are not against Jangams. He requested the swamijis of Virakta Mutt to join hands.
BJP Lingayat leaders give the meet a miss
Prominant Lingayat leaders from the BJP such as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, MLA Arvind Bellad and others did not attend the rally. Gurusiddaraj Yogindraswamiji of Moorusavira Mutt, who expressed his unhappiness over the agitation, did not turn up.