KALABURAGI: Lingayat leaders who are advocating for a separate religion status pledged in the 4th convention of Lingayat Dharma Swatantra Dharma convention that they would not rest till Lingayat is considered a separate religion by the Union government, in Kalaburagi on Sunday. Irrigation Minister M B Patil, who is the brain behind Lingayat Swatantra Dharma conventions, told the nearly 1 lakh strong gathering that it would not be possible to get a separate religion status for Lingayat if the word Veerashaiva is added to it.
The request for considering Veerashiva as separate religion was rejected by the Union government three times as the term Veerashiva includes the term ‘Shiva’ which is the part and parcel of Hindu religion. If we go to the Union government requesting to grant separate religion status to Veerashiva- Lingayat, they will reject it. The only way to get the demand fulfilled is to pressurise the Union government, Patil said. Lingayat dharma is like a train with 75 bogies including the bogie of Veerashiva. All the castes and sub-castes should forget their individual identity and should approach Union government unitedly with the demand to declare Lingayat as an independent religion, he said. Patil said that if the Union government rejects the demand, they would knock the doors of the Supreme Court.
Seer of Brahanmutt of Chitradurga, Shri Murugha Rajendra Sharanaru, said that bringing all people together is ‘Basava Patha’. There might be ideological differences between Lingayats and Veerashaivas but the time has come for the unity, he said. Pontiff of Sidhalinga Swamiji of Tontadarya Mutt Gadag suggested establishing ‘Akhil Bharat Lingayat Maha Sabha’ to counter Akhil Bharat Veerashiva Maha Sabha which will increase the zeal among Lingayats to fight for the cause of independent religion status. The congregation submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah through Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner requesting to recommend the Union government to give independent religion status to Lingayat.