Q&A: Lingayats need religion tag in changed scenario, says Basavaraj Horatti
Janata Dal (Secular) leader Basavaraj Horatti, who won a record seventh term to the Legislative Council from West Teachers’ constituency, is a staunch follower of 12th century saint-poet Basaveshwara. The prominent Lingayat leader is known for his straight talk and an attitude which transcends caste and creed. He is a rare politician and a cultured human being with deep social concerns. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, the MLC spoke on the demand for religion status for the Lingayats and the rift within the community over the issue.
Why do you think Lingayats or Veerashaivas should get separate religion status?
I would like to narrate an incident when more than 70 Lingayat youth approached me recently and poured out their woes over the injustice meted out to them which left them deprived of seats in professional courses despite securing more than 90 per cent marks. They raised a hue and cry questioning my leadership and urged me to desert the community if I can’t provide them justice. I had visited Tamil Nadu where a large number of Lingayats live. I have witnessed the dismal condition of these poverty-stricken people who lead a hand to mouth existence. Secondly, there used to be more than a hundred Lingayat MLAs in the Assembly once and there were only a few seers who used to be revered by all irrespective of their caste. Thirdly, more than one lakh people gathered at a mammoth Lingayat rally in Bidar last week and raised their voices in unison seeking religion status. We need separate religion status as the situation has totally changed now and the numbers of Lingayat legislators has been reduced considerably. Moreover, all other castes have witnessed growth by obtaining reservation and government facilities. I believe it is also good from the development perspective of the community.
Does it mean Veerashaiva Lingayats cannot carry on their spiritual pursuits under the present system? Who is preventing you when you are the dominant community?
Our spiritual pursuits will not be affected and religious rituals also will remain unchanged if a separate tag is given to us. The religion tag will also provide us a platform to stop discrimination among Lingayats by removing sub-castes. I don’t believe in the caste system and have never attended caste conventions . Basaveshwara also strove for a casteless society and established Anubhava Mantapa, the first socio-religious Parliament of the world.
A plea was made when Dr Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister for religion status. Was it rejected?
Earlier, many pleas were made to the Centre in 1969, 1979, 1986 and at the time the Congress led UPA government was in power. But, it was rejected as the proposal was sent in the name of Veerashaiva Lingayats instead of only Lingayats. We cannot get the minority tag in the name of Veerashaivas as Shaivism will not be construed as a separate religion. The use of Veerashaiva and Lingayat by several leaders including Veerashaiva Mahasabha president Shamanur Shivashankarappa and BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa has caused a lot of confusion.
Will the rift among leaders over the use of the term Lingayat or Veerashaiva be resolved?
We are all Lingayats, not Veerashaivas as claimed by some leaders and seers. Our caste certificates in school records which mention only Hindu Lingayat, is ample proof to support this claim. Ninety percent of Lingayats are in favour of a separate religion and prefer the word Lingayat. Very few people are opposing it for their selfish motives. Community leaders have established All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha for political purposes. The onus is on all seers to sit together and bring harmony by removing differences.
The BJP first opposed it and is now playing safe by staying neutral on the religions status issue. Is this not a Siddaramaiah poll ploy, implemented through his Lingayat ministers to divide Lingayat votes so that the BJP does not get the large chunk of these votes?
Let us not drag politics into the row. It is the responsibility of a Chief Minister to recommend to the Centre separate religion status if the community puts forth such a demand. I don’ think he is playing politics as he only said he will send a proposal if there is unanimity among Lingayats. But, I will definitely say that Siddaramaiah is doing politics by forming a committee comprising of only his Cabinet colleagues to conduct a survey to gather opinion from within the community. He should have included Lingayat leaders from other parties in the panel.
Do you think this will work in favour of the Congress eight months before the Assembly polls?
Raking up the religion tag ahead of Assembly election is just a matter of coincidence as several events related to the Lingayat community are happened one after the other in recent weeks. But, the government move to display portraits of Basavanna in all government offices and renaming of the women’s university as Akkamahadevi at this juncture apparently proves there is a political angle to the acts of the government. You should also remember that Siddaramaiah was sworn in as CM on the occasion of Basaveshwara Jayanti in May, 2013.
Siddaramaiah seems to have emerged as the Lingayat community’s poster boy with this. Do you think can he achieve his goal of winning over the community?
People are more intelligent. Neither Congress nor any other political party will gain mileage from this controversy. It’s also quite natural for all parties to try to take benefit from it, we cannot prevent it when Assembly elections are approaching. Former CM Ramakrishna Hegde was also labelled pro-Lingayat for his work for the development of the community. Now, Siddaramaiah is projected as an Ahinda leader. It is ultimately people who will decide the fate of leaders based on their good deeds.
We have seen discrimination by Lingayats against others. How will Lingayats treat OBCs, ST and STs once you become a separate religion? Will you be you accommodative?
Lingayats always believe in equality and Basavanna had taken many dalits like Haralayyya and Madigar Channayya into confidence during the 12 century. Therefore, the question of discrimination against any other community does not arise. Though atrocities against dalits are going on in rural parts of the state, Lingayats are not involved in it except in some rare incidents. We will treat them with due respect and will not snatch reservation and other government facilities given to them.
Is not it an irony that Basaveshwara fought dogmas and religious discrimination but now, you want to fix Lingayats in the photo frame of a religion and bring back the same dogmas Basaveshwara opposed.
Basaveshwara formed the Lingayat sect by opposing the Shaiva system. He fought to uplift marginalized people. We are also seeking a religion tag for Lingayats like Hindu Sikhs and Hindu Jains. Our intention is not to cause any harm to others. Our motive is to develop backward people within Lingayats in Karnataka and neighbouring states similar to the efforts made by Dr B.R. Ambedkar for dalits.
Isn’t it a political conspiracy to get minority tag, once you become a separate religion, you can make sure the chain of Lingayat educational institutions can work unchecked.
It’s a wrong notion. All Lingayat education institutions have to work within the legal purview and the government can take action against them if they fail to adhere to the law.
