Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the valedictory function of the Basava Samskruthi Abhiyan in Bengaluru on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
The issue of a separate religion status for Lingayats came to the fore again after nearly a decade on Sunday, with several leaders raising it even as sharp differences in the community were also visible.The demand at the valedictory function of the Basava Samskruthi Abhiyan, organised by Lingayat Matadeeshara Okkoota, has come at a time when Veerashaivas and Lingayats are seeking a separate religion under the ‘others’ column in the Social and Educational Survey but under different nomenclature, which has caused confusion and division in the community.The issue comes to the fore since a campaign in 2017-2018 was launched by certain community leaders, including those from the Congress during the previous Siddaramaiah government.On Sunday, of the five resolutions passed at the valedictory function, the need for a separate religion status for Lingayats was one. Though the okkoota insisted on being under Hinduism in the larger geographical character, it said separate religion status was important to get government facilities and reservation.Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha secretary Shivanand Jamdar, who was among those who led the movement in 2017-2018, urged followers of over 300 Virukthamutts to be part of the ‘Lingayat religion’ movement.Heavy Industries Minister M.B. Patil insisted: “Though geographically we are also Hindus, we are Lingayats by religion. Lingayats are not anyone’s enemies.”The Minister also said the Lingayat community should stand by Mr. Siddaramaiah since he had contributed to the development of the community more than anyone. Retired High Court judge H.N. Nagamohan Das, based on whose report the State government in 2018 granted religious minority status to Lingayats, urged for a strong movement for the religion status. He also said that Basava philosophy was different from religion.Over 300 mutts were represented by their seers, many of whom raised the issue. “It is because of Mr. Siddaramaiah’s efforts that Lingayats have received separate religion status in Karnataka. Now, the Centre has to accord the status and we hope that we will get the religious minority status. Nobody can stop us from getting it,” said Bhalki-based Hire Mutt seer Basavalinga Pattadevaru, who is also president of Lingayat Matadeeshara Okkoota.Division?Meanwhile, the event also showed divisions in the community and also the Veerashaiava-Lingayat politics. Community leaders from the BJP, including former Chief Minister and Lingayat strongman B.S. Yediyurappa, Forest Minister B. Eshwar Khandre, and the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha office-bearers kept away from the event.A senior community leader in the Congress said it looked that the old team of 2017-2018 that demanded a separate religion status was active again. “The timing of the event is suspicious. It happened when the Social and Educational Survey is under way. Enough confusion has been created already in the community. Tall community leaders from the BJP have been kept away. Mr. Patil and Mr. Khandre represent two factions and ideally both should have been there.”When contacted, mahasabha secretary H.M. Renuka Prasanna confirmed they had not been invited though mahasabha units had strived hard to make the event successful.Renaming Namma Metro as Basava MetroChief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was felicitated at the valedictory function of Basava Samskruthi Abhiyan, announced the establishment of Basava University from the next academic year.To another demand to rename Namma Metro as ‘Basava Metro’, he said that the State government will recommend to the Centre to rename it. “If it was fully funded by the State government, we would have immediately renamed it,” he said, adding that it was his government that declared Basavanna as ‘cultural icon’ and mandated Basavanna’s photograph in all public offices. Published - October 05, 2025 08:44 pm IST
