Bengaluru: A day after two prominent Lingayat ministers and JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti, slammed senior RSS leader S Ramanna, for his derogatory remarks against leaders heading the campaign for separate religion tag for Lingayats, the RSS issued a gag order against airing any statements in public on the controversial issue.
On Wednesday, ministers M.B. Patil and Vinay Kulakarni, and Mr Horatti had criticized Mr S. Ramanna for derogatory remarks against Lingayat leaders who are leading the campaign for a separate religion.
On Thursday, Mr. Ramanna clarified that he did not speak up against these leaders and even tendered an apology to anyone hurt by his utterances.
Sensing that the situation could turn ugly, the top brass of RSS responded quickly, asking its leaders and cadre to refrain from making any comments on the issue of separate religion status for Lingayats, for such remarks would dent the image of the organization in the run up to elections to next year’s elections to the Assembly, sources told DC. Though the top brass of RSS and state unit leaders discussed the ongoing row between Lingayats and Veerashaivas, none has made their opinion public. These leaders are opposed to the prospect of separate religion status for Lingayats in closed-door meetings but have not mentioned a word in public. Instead, they are keen to douse the row. In this context, Mr Ramanna issued an apology, sources added.
Even both RSS and BJP leaders are well aware of the fact that ruling Congress leaders are indulging in politics over separate religioun status for Lingayats. In comparison, Congress leaders are keen to know the opinion of leaders of BJP and RSS on the issue, sources added.
