Lingayat tussle: BJP resorts to wait and watch tactic

The State BJP has decided to resort to wait and watch tactic with regard to Lingayat issue. Since it is a sensitive issue, it is not right to respond on impulse, wait for decision of religious heads. Shettar responded that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is resorting to divide and rule tactic.

The State BJP has decided to resort to wait and watch tactic with regard to declaring Lingayat as a separate religion.  It is learnt that at the meeting of MPs held at State BJP president, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s house in New Delhi, a consensus was arrived at to wait and watch the developments, reported Kannada Prabha.

Since it is a sensitive issue, it is not right to respond on impulse. Let us wait and see what decision the religious heads will take.  Following their stand the Party can proceed, the MPs opined, it is said.

With regard to the State Flag issue also the meeting decided to take a neutral stand and wait to watch the developments, said sources.

However, at Bengaluru, Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar responded that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is resorting to divide and rule tactic.  He called it a poll gimmick.

Former minister Shamanuru Shivashankarappa asserted in Davanagere that there is no question of retracting; Veerashaiva Lingayata will be declared a separate religion. Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha will yet again meet the Chief Minister and submit an appeal to that effect, he said.