Hubballi: The government’s decision to recommend an independent religion status for Lingayats to the Centre could give the Congress the edge over the BJP in Mumbai-Karnataka in the coming Assembly poll as the community plays a key role in the region.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s adroit move to put the Centre on the spot over the issue could prove to be double trouble for the BJP, which has already attracted the anger of farmers over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s failure to intervene in the Mahadayi water dispute with Goa.
On the other hand, the issue has energised the Congress workers at the grassroots and they are readying to face the polls after Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s whirlwind tour of the four districts with their large chunk of Lingayats and only a sprinkling of Veerashaiva mutts. Not only do Ministers M B Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, who have been spearheading the agitation for an independent religion tag for Lingayats, belong to Mumbai-Karnataka, but also prominent seers like Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swamiji, Mathe Mahadevi and Dr Siddalinga Swamiji of Gadag Tontadarya Mutt, who have been in the forefront of the movement.
Not surprisingly, Congress leaders see the government’s move as a shot in the arm for the party as the influence of these seers will come in handy for them in the Assembly polls. Holding of public rallies at Basavanna’s birthplace of Kudalasangama is also perceived to be a calculated move by the party to woo Lingayats. “The government’s decision will help Congress in North Karnataka where Lingayats are in a majority. This is a well-planned strategy to attract Lingayat votes. But it’s a risky game as religion is always a sensitive issue,” says Prof. Harish Ramaswamy of the political science department of Karnataka University.
Seer plans ‘peaceful religious war’
If the government had intended to pacify the Veerashaivas by its decision to extend its recommendation for minority religion status for Lingayats to those of them who believed in Basavana, the 12th century reformer, the Ishtalinga and so on, it doesn’t appear to have succeeded very much.
Responding to the Cabinet’s decision, prominent Veerashaiva seer, Dr Veerasomeshwara Shivacharya Swami of Rambhapuri warned on Monday that he would launch a “peaceful religious war” against the government by uniting all the Veerashaiva seers. His grouse ? Veerashaivas were placed second to Lingayats instead of first in the Cabinet's recommendation “to destroy their Vedic beliefs and traditions.”
“It is a conspiracy to force Veerashaivas to only accept the ideology of the 12th century Sharanas, which is not possible as they also follow the ancient Acharya, Guru or Vedic traditions. Philosopher Basavanna is neither the founder of any religion nor its head as he is only a social reformer. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to seek an independent religion tag without studying this. We will support the government’s move only if it sends the recommendation for Veerashaiva-Lingayats,” he asserted, speaking to reporters here.
Contending that it was not so easy to disengage the Veerashaivas from Hindu religion, he said the Union government would not accept the state’s proposal and the Cabinet’s decision would only harm the unity of the community.
