Bengaluru: Water resources minister, M. B. Patil on Sunday claimed that the Tumakuru Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swamiji too has unequivocally supported the Lingayats’ demand for separate religion status.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Patil said, “Today, I met the seer. He is supreme as far as our religious matters are concerned. Surprisingly, he too felt that Lingayats should get recognition as a separate religion.”
According to him, the seer also felt that Veerashivas joining with Lingayats was a recent phenomenon.
“I am saying what the seer has told me. I have not included a single word of mine. This is an unforgettable moment in my life,” the water resources minister declared.
He added that when he had gone to Tumkuru, the seer had sent word saying he wanted to meet him at his math.
“The seer blessed with prasad and subsequently he told me what I have already disclosed to you,” he said. “I feel that with the seer's blessings, our fight for separate religion status will gain further momentum,” he claimed and quickly added that he will soon meet the Suttur math seer shortly.
In response to a question, Mr Patil snapped that his differences with former minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa or with minister Eshwar Khandre are ideological and not personal. “I feel proud that those who have abused me for raking up the separate religion status are all my friends and relatives,” he retorted.
