In a significant move ahead of Assembly elections in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah-led Congress government today decided to recommend to the Centre to grant religious minority tag to the numerically strong and politically-influential Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community.
In a significant move ahead of Assembly elections in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah-led Congress government today decided to recommend to the Centre to grant religious minority tag to the numerically strong and politically-influential Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community.
Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the cabinet had accepted the recommendations of an expert panel set up by the state government on the issue.
"The decision has been taken after deep deliberations and discussion...," he said. The Government has said the decision would not affect the rights and interests enjoyed by the existing minorities.
Here are 10 important points on the development:
1. According to the Nagamohan Das committee, Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats are those who believed in the philosphy of Basaveshwara, 12th century social reformer.
2. The demand for a separate religion tag to Veerashaiva/ Lingayat faiths has surfaced from the community, amidst resentment from within over projecting the two communities as the same.
3. While one section led by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha has demanded separate religion status, asserting that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are the same, the other group wanted it only for Lingayats.
4. They believe that Veerashaivas are one among the seven sects of Shaivas, which is part of Hinduism.
5. Last week, the seers, led by Gadag-based Tontadarya Mutt's Siddalinga Swami, had met Siddaramaiah and urged him to implement the report of an official committee that recommended conferring a separate religious and minority status to their community.
6. Karnataka State Minorities Commission had formed a seven-member committee, headed by retired high court Judge H N Nagamohan Das, on the issue which submitted its report on March 2.
7. Of late, some Lingayats have also stated that they were open to having the Veerashaivas under their umbrella, but the Lingayat nomenclature was non-negotiable.
8. The Lingayat/Veerashaiva community that owes allegiance to the "social reform movement" initiated by Basaveshwara has a substantial population in Karnataka, especially in the northern parts of the state.
9. The BJP and several sections of the Hindu community have maintained a cautious stance keeping away from the move to give Veerashaiva/Lingayat separate religion status.
10. They have accused the Siddaramaiah government of dividing the society to draw political mileage ahead of assembly elections due in the next couple of months.
(With PTI inputs)
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 "Members of Lingayat community celebrating after Karnataka govt accepted recommendations of committee suggesting minority tag")
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