BIDAR: Ruling out the possibility of leaders of rival factions joining hands to demand separate religion status for Lingayats, Mathe Mahadevi of Basava Dharma Peetha announced on Saturday that another mega rally, with supporters from Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, would be held in Bidar on November 19.
She told the media here though attempts were made to forge an alliance between the two factions, it did not come through. “And there is no possibility of both factions joining hands to fight together as there are differences between the two”, she added.
Mathe Mahadevi said a another big rally would be organized in Bidar on November 19 to press for separate religion tag for Lingayats. Ministers M B Patil, Dr Sharan Prakash Patil and Vinay Kulkarni and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Basavaraj Horatti would address scores of supporters from the state and neighbouring Telangana and Maharashtra. Incidentally, the first rally of Lingayats was held here on July 20 this year.
In response to a question, she defended the statement of Shri Jaya Mruthunjaya Swamiji of Panchamashali Peetha, Kudalasangama, which stirred up a controversy. “In north Karnataka often the guru is likened to father. So in that context, the Swamiji had made the statement. But it has been misinterpreted, leading to the controversy.”
Mathe Mahadevi took exception to Pejawar Swamiji’s statement that Lingayats are part of Hindu religion.
“I’m ready to challenge him on the issue. There is no ambiguity that Lingayat is an independent religion and we will realize our goal in near future,” she asserted.
