Veerashaivas should join the agitation for Lingayat independent religion: Actor Chetan
- The agitation is not against any political Party but with the aim of releasing Lingayata from the tight fist of Hinduism and for Constitutional status.
- Veerashaivas are exploiting the society in the pretext of Vedic rituals. Brahmins are considering Veerashaivas as Shudras even now.
- Veerashaiva Swamis of Pancha Peetha who are exploiting the people in the name of religion are more dangerous than Pejawara Swamy.
- Actor Chethan said Yeddyurappa is using Lingayatas as pawns for selfish gains, Lingayatas must be cautious about him.
FollowThe Bailuru Nihskala Mantapa Nijagunananda Swami has said that if Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha president Shamanuru Shivashanakarappa and the vice president N Tippanna do not support the agitation to declare Lingayat as an independent religion, all Lingayatas will stage a dharna in front of the houses of both the leaders, reported Kannada Prabha.
Speaking at a decisive meeting held at Basava Bhavana in the City on Wednesday regarding Lingayat independent religion, Nijagunananda Swami  said, the agitation is not against any political Party but with the aim of releasing Lingayat from the tight fist of Hinduism and for Constitutional status. It is for this reason that the RSS and Vishva Hindu Parishat is shaking. It is for this reason that Pejawara Swamy had offered to mediate between Veerashaiva and Lingayat leaders. But we do not want their mediation, he said.
"Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is inviting Dalits home and feeding them. By feeding lunch Dalits will not emancipate. Yeddyurappa is a former Dalit. He has now forgotten that he was a Shudra once. All of us who are the followers of Basavanna were Dalits at one time. Veerashaivas are exploiting the society in the pretext of Vedic rituals. Brahmins are considering Veerashaivas as Shudras even now," Swami said.
We must understand the attack by Vaidics in history. Basavanna was dismissed from his post of minister at midnight at 12 and set out of state by Kondi Machanna, Narayana Karnika and Vishnu Bhatta. They were not Muslims or Christians but Vaidics. It was people who practiced Vedas who threw Buddha out of the country. To this day those who oppose the Veda practitioners are attacked. Especially Lingayats who are progressive and as a community striving to be a pro-people religion, added the seer.
The killing of Dr M M Kalburgi was also one such attack. Every Lingayat must write to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister to declare Lingayat an independent religion. Following in the footsteps of Basavanna we must take up revolution for the identity of the self rather than blood shed revolution. The Basava doctrine has the power to convince anybody, he said.
Panchamasali Mutt swamy Jayamruthyunjaya Seer said the Veerashaiva Swamis of Pancha Peetha who are exploiting the people in the name of religion are more dangerous than Pejawara Swamy, he added.
Coming down heavily on BS Yeddyurappa actor Chethan said Yeddyurappa and Suttur Swamy are using Lingayats for selfish gains. Yeddyurappa is not Abhinava Basavanna but actually he is Kondi Manchanna.
Speaking at the decisive meeting at Basava Bhavana on Wednesday Chethan said the agitation for independent Lingayat religion should be based on clarity of principles. But some people are diving the community for personal gains. Former chief minister Yeddyurappa is using Lingayats as pawns for selfish gains. Lingayats must be cautious about him, he said.
When Yeddyurappa was the chief minister he granted Rs 350 crore to mutts. How correct is it to grant funds to mutts that believe in work is worship? How can anyone acting against the Basavanna’s doctrine be a Lingayat, he questioned.
Meanwhile, Shobha Karandlaje has reacted strongly to actor Chethan’s statement and said what does Chetan know besides film? It is Siddaramaiah’s words that he is mouthing, she said.
Meanwhile at Belagavi, Suresh Angadi, MP, has apologised for the defamatory statement he had issued regarding Lingayat religious leaders and the Lingayat convention. Speaking to Kannada Prabha, he said he did not intend to hurt anybody’s feelings and apologised to the Naganura Rudrakshi mutt Siddarama Swamy, whom he says he respects.
