Lingayat netas: Sangh made Siddaganga seer change stand on religion tag
Bengaluru: Leaders batting for a separate religion tag for Lingayats, while agreeing with the stand taken by Dr Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt on the need for unity in the community on the issue, claimed that the opinion the seer had expressed to Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil a few days ago was ‘true’.
Addressing a joint news conference here on Thursday, Mines and Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni, JD(S) Floor Leader in the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti, Congress MLA B.R. Patil and retired IAS officer S.M. Jamdhar claimed that Mr Patil was innocent and he had not done any mistake. The controversy broke out after Mr Patil claimed that the seer during a meeting on Sunday had supported the demand for separate religion status for Lingayats. A day later, the seer clarified that he had never said this leaving Mr Patil and the Congress party embarrassed.
“We have the highest regard for Siddaganga seer and he is the most revered pontiff in our community. There is no question of showing disrespect to him. Mr Patil has shared with the media the feelings of the pontiff and has not lied at all. We suspect the involvement of the Sangh Parivar in the clarification issued by the seer within 48 hours after his meeting with Mr Patil, denying that he had expressed his support for the Lingayat religion tag. No political leader must misuse the mutt for their gain,” they said.
According to the Congress leaders, the seer's statement was changed twice in a day. The Sangh Parivar allegedly put pressure on the pontiff to issue a denial as they felt Hindu religion would be threatened if the Lingayat were given the status of separate religion.
The leaders also claimed that the entire community was behind Mr Patil and there were lakhs of Patils across the state who were ready to carry forward the agitation. The question of stopping their fight for separate religion status for Lingayats, at this juncture does not arise and the struggle would be continued with more vigour. “Mr Patil is very upset as he is being portrayed wrongly for no fault of his. We extend our moral support to him,” they added.
