Bengaluru: Ministers M.B. Patil and Vinay Kulakarni and other leaders involved in the ongoing Lingayat movement demanded an apology from senior RSS functionary, S. Ramanna of the South India Kesthriya Praracharak for his remark that those seeking a separate religious status for the community belonged to the 'Shani Santhan'.
Speaking to reporters here, the Ministers accompanied by JD(S) leader, Basavaraj Horatti, and former Ministers A.B. Patil and G.B. Patil, took strong objection to Mr Ramanna’s remarks, which were reportedly made during RSS functions in Bagalkote and Davangere.
Demanding an apology from him, Mr. Patil and Mr Kulakarni warned that if he did not apologise , the RSS would not be allowed to hold any functions in the state in future and they would barge into offices here.
Both Ministers also urged the Lingayat karyakathas in the RSS to cut ties with it for Mr Ramanna’s derogatory remark against the community.
“Lingayat youth, who have been actively involved with the RSS, should leave it if they have faith in the community,” they asserted, adding with sarcasm that Lingayat leaders of the BJP too should severe ties with the RSS. “I urge (state BJP chief) B.S.Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar, my friend V.Somanna, Murugesh Niarani, C.M. Udasi and other Lingayat leaders to dissociate with the RSS if they have any sense of morality,” Mr. Patil said.
“ We believe in the Basava dharma and while we know nothing about Ramanna’s birth, we do know about the birth of our religion. If the RSS does not stop its cheap tactics to discredit Lingayats, we will show how strong we are in days to come,” Mr. Kulakarni warned.
Mr Horatti claimed that Mr Ramanna had acted on the instructions of a top RSS leader. “ We demand an apology from him. If he does not give it we will start an agitation before the RSS office,” he added.
