Give us religion status or face legal battle: Lingayats

Hubballi: Expressing confidence that the state and Central government will accord independent religion tag to the Lingayat community, water resources minister M.B. Patil said their campaign will continue until their demand is met and also warned that they would fight a legal battle in the Supreme Court as a last resort by producing historic evidence to support their claim.

Addressing a Lingayat rally in Vijayapura on Sunday, he clarified that the agitation is not against Hindus or Veerashaivas, but to uplift the downtrodden by seeking minority status. Referring to the statement given by former minister Umesh Katti in favour of Lingayats, MLC Basavaraj Horatti said several BJP leaders like him are indirectly supporting their campaign and they are not expressing their view publicly due to the party's agenda to oppose Lingayat rallies. 

Stating that the agitation is apolitical, he accusing some seers of sabotaging the campaign by spreading false propaganda. He also said that the organisation now has complete historical records to prove their claim that Lingayats were never part of Hindu religion. He also called upon all religious heads and other anti-Lingayat campaigners to join the movement by shedding differences. The leaders also warned seers that they would face public anger in future if they continue to oppose the rallies.

Retired IAS officer, S.M. Jamdar wondered why seers and BJP leaders of Karnataka are not supporting the demand when seers and BJP leaders of Maharashtra are doing it.