Will consider religion tag if all Lingayat netas join hands, says Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Denying that his government was attempting to cause divisions in society by endorsing the demand for a separate religious status for the Lingayat community,  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said his intention was never to cause unrest but only to unite people and build society.

“We have merely asked all the community leaders, who have proposed recognition of  Lingayats as a separate religious community, to come together and promised to consider it,” he explained, adding, “  Have I proposed this anywhere? The Veershaiva Mahashabha gave a memorandum to recognise the Lingayat community as Veershaivas and  Maathe Mahadevi and others gave a letter asking it to be recognised as a Lingayat dharma. We need to check if there is a provision in the Constitution to allow this, but have not yet begun the process.” 

Asked about the five Lingayat ministers planning to tour the state to collect views on the subject, he said, “they are doing it on their own. I have nothing to do with it.”

Asked if Mr Ramanath Rai would be made Home Minister, he said, “Let us fill the three vacant portfolios first, and only then will this question arise. We will do it shortly.” 

The Chief Minister, who was speaking to reporters on arrival at Mysuru airport enroute to participate in the ceremony to mark the first death anniversary of his son, Rakesh at his farm house in  Kaatur, revealed that an all- party meeting would be held on August 5 to discuss water issues, including release of Cauvery water for irrigation, and the Mahadayi dispute with Goa.  

As for state Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Kumaraswamy’s proposed padayatra from Hunsur to Bengaluru on July 31, he said, “Being a former Chief Minister he must behave responsibly. Most of the reservoirs have not filled up to even half their capacity due to the poor rainfall this year too. We need to have enough water for drinking before releasing it for irrigation. We are only releasing water to Tamil Nadu on the orders of the tribunal and the court.”

 On the status on the Mahadayi dispute, he said the irrigation minister of Goa had accused Karnataka of playing dirty politics in a letter to the Centre.  

“But it is not we but they are who are playing dirty politics as they first agreed to resolve the issue through mutual discussion, and are now  saying no,” he deplored. 

On three languages being used on the Bengaluru Metro, he said he had  written to the Centre on the issue.