Independent religion status for Lingayats: All eyes are on Belagavi's 'Maha rally'
- The 'Maha rally' is expected to take five-point decision in their quest for separate religion status for Lingayats
- Congress minister from the community turned up at the meeting while BJP leaders have remained silent
- Contradictory statements and flip-flops by various community leaders and seers causing further chaos
FollowAmidst confusion over whether Lingayat and Veerashaiva are same or not, yet another convention to demand an independent religion status for Lingayats is being held in Belagavi. Titled as 'Maha rally', the convention is expected to take a five-point decision in their fight to get accordance to declare Lingayats as an independent religion.
As expected community leaders from the Congress party are participating in the rally. Ministers like MB Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, who have been supporting an independent religion status, will also take part in the convention. But surprisingly, so far, no BJP leaders have announced their participation in the rally. Prominent seers Gadag's Thontadarya Dr Siddalinga swami, Siddarama swami of Rudrakshimutt, Naganur, Murugharajendra Sharana of Chitradurga, Panchamalingeshwara swami of Nidasosi and others are participating in the rally, reports Kannada Prabha.
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Lingayats started gathering at the venue for the massive rally today at Belagavi pic.twitter.com/WGN8eP5xLE
— Lingayats (@Lingayatas) August 22, 2017
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The rally is being led by Mathe Mahadevi, the first female Jagaduguru of the Lingayat community. Mathe Mahadevi had been spearheading the agitation to get independent religion status for Lingayats. According to her, Lingayats and Veerashaivas are not part of Hindu religion. They are neither sub-sects but an independent religion in its own right. The issue snowballed into a controversy after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he would recommend the Centre to declare Lingayat as the separate religion.
The issue also divided the Veerashaivas and Lingayats with the seers giving contradictory statements. But ever since the agitation, BJP leaders in the state have distanced themselves on the issue. Yeddyurappa who is an influential leader in the community had stated that "There is no difference between Veerashaivas and Lingayats and they are very much part of Hinduism. The Lingayat community will stand united, and there was no question of seeking a separate religion status for it."
However, as the cries for an independent religion status grew stronger, Yeddyurappa has now fallen silent. Instead, he had stated that the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has the authority to decide on the issue. But, later it emerged that Yeddyurappa had joined other in holding a signature campaign to demand an independent religion status for the Lingayats way back in 2013.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Panchapeethas of Veerashaivas is holding a meeting in Bengaluru on August 23 to evolve consensus over the difference between Veerashaiva and Lingayats. Â
