BENGALURU: Some Congress leaders and seers of Lingayat Maths, who are in the forefront of an agitation in support of separate religion status for Lingayats, hinted at moving the Supreme Court in case the Union and state governments decide to ignore their demand.
On Monday, ministers M B Patil and Vinay Kulkarni told the media the decision to move the apex court would be taken based on the outcome of a committee set to be constituted by CM Siddaramaiah to take a call after hearing two groups on the question of a separate tag for Lingayats. They threatened to carry on with the campaign saying the committee could take some time to submit its report to the government, adding the demand had nothing to do with next year's elections.
Dismissing allegations that Mr Siddaramaiah had set out to drive a wedge between Lingayats and Veerashaivas, the Chief Minister commented on the demand only after some seers submitted a memorandum on this issue. Besides, the CM told both groups to resolve all contentious issues among themselves and come to him with a common petition. Besides he had promised to form an experts committee to look into memoranda submitted by both the groups. Their demand was 800 year-old and therefore should not be linked to the Assembly polls, the ministers added.
Replying to a question, Mr Patil said his grandfather had established Veerashaiva Mahasabha, but ironically he was fighting against him on the issue of separate religion tag for Lingayats.
