Ministers giving money to seers: Shamanoor Shivashankarappa

Bengaluru: The possibility of a reconciliation between the Veerashaivas and Lingayats on the issue of a separate religious tag for the community seems to be getting more remote with  Akhila Bharatiya Veerashaiva Mahasabha (ABVM) president, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa scotching rumours that he had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to work through their differences.

Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, he denied that  Irrigation Minister, M.B. Patil and he had met Mr Siddaramaiah to address their problems and arrive at an understanding.  "Why should I? They (Patil and company) went and met him. I did not go," he said.

While in the past Mr Shivashankarappa had always described Mr Siddaramaiah as a gentleman, and insisted  he was not misusing the Lingayat crisis for his own ends, he appears to have now changed his mind on this. "They (Mr Patil and group) are misusing the government machinery. There’s no doubt. They are giving money to pontiffs," he charged, in response to queries.  Asked if the Patil group was acting on behalf of Mr Siddaramaiah, he replied, "I strongly believe the CM could be behind them." In reply to another query, he agreed the Chief Minister’s camp could drive a wedge between the two groups for the sake of  votes in the coming elections. "The CM could divide us and gain Lingayat votes in some pockets. We cannot rule this out," he maintained

Mr Shivashankarappa, however, said he would meet the CM if he was invited by him. "We will insist that we should be recognised as Veerashaiva-Lingayats. I know they (the Patil group) don’t agree with this and  want only to be  identified as Lingayats. But I feel there is no difference between us," he added. Asked when the expert committee would be constituted to study the history of the Veerashaivas and Lingayats, Mr  Shivashankarappa said the idea had been dropped as the Patil group did not support it.

Seers: Prove the allegation
Reacting sharply to Veerashaiva Mahasabha president Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s allegation that some seers have been offered hefty amounts and luxury cars for expressing support for the demand for minority status for the community, Jaya Mrithyunjaya Swamiji of Kudalasangama challenged the Congress leader to step down from his post if he fails to prove his charges. Stating that he is not the one who will fall prey to such inducements, the seer said the Mahasabha president has no right to level charges against him.

The Congress leader had alleged that Jaya Mrithyunjaya Swamiji has received Rs 56 lakh cash and a car for supporting the movement for independent religion status. He had also complained that the seer was promised Rs 2.50 crore grants by the state government in an attempt to divide the community. 

“We will take a decision to form a separate Akhil Bharat Lingayat Mahasabha at a rally to be held in Hubballi on November 5”, Jaya Mrithyunjaya Swamiji said after attending a preparatory meeting in Gadag on Thursday.

Dr Siddalinga Swamiji of Gadag Tontadarya Mutt said that the former minister is misleading people by leveling false charges against seers and also sought an apology from the senior Congress leader. The seer also criticized Pejawar seer who had claimed that both Veerashaivas and Lingayat are same.