Let Lingayat-Veerashaiva seers decide: HD Deve Gowda
Gowda said the issue would become complicated if politicians chose to interfere in it.
Bengaluru: Refusing to be drawn into the ongoing controversy over a minority religious status for Veerashaiva-Lingayats, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday adroitly evaded comment by saying he preferred to leave it to religious leaders to take a decision on the issue.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi after a meeting with PM Modi, Mr Gowda said the issue would become complicated if politicians chose to interfere in it.
“I have never commented on the issue before and I am not going to comment on it in future either. If politicians get involved in this matter there’s a possibility of it being misused,” he warned. On his meeting with the PM, he said he had requested him to sanction an IIT for Hassan as part of the new economic policy, as it would help 12 districts.
“I have requested him to provide a railway line between Hassan and Shivamogga to help tourists visiting Shravanabelagola and Sringeri. I havespoken to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu about this,” he added.
Noting that lakhs of people visited the district for mahamasthabhisheka of Mahavir Jain's idol at Shravanabelagola, Mr Gowda said he had requested the Centre for financial assistance of Rs 100 crore for the event.