HUBBALLI: Chief minister Siddaramaiah distanced himself from the controversy surrounding the demand to declare Lingayat a separate religion issue and said that government would consider the opposing views surrounding the issue.
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said that his government had no role in the issue. "While there is a demand for the status of separate Lingayat religion, there are also objections for the demand. The government will consider both the views and the Law ministry will study it. We have asked both the parties to submit their views and the government will examine it legally and constitutionally”.
Speaking on a committee of five ministers who are touring the State to gather the opinion of Lingayat community members, he said that the leaders have formed the committee themselves. The government has nothing to do with it, he said.
Siddaramaiah lashed out at Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar who resigned from his and was sworn in subsequently with support from BJP. Siddaramaiah criticised Nitish Kumar as an opportunistic leader. "He betrayed the mandate of Bihar voters. The people of Bihar gave mandate to both Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janta Dal (United). If he had fought the election his resignation was not a problem. He backstabbed the grand alliance,” he said.
The chief minister who was in the tour of Haveri district on Thursday, canceled some of his scheduled programme following sudden death of former chief minister N Dharam Singh and returned to Bengaluru.