Separate religion: Balaga demands apology from Minister M B Patil

Members of Veerashaiva Lingayat Balaga strongly reacted against Water Resources Minister M B Patil’s statement in connection with separate religion status and demanded that he get his head tonsured.

On Tuesday, the members dispatched materials required for the minister by post.

On Sunday, Patil had claimed that seer of Siddaganga mutt Shivakumara Swami had expressed support for the demand for a separate religion tag for Lingayats.

He is said to have added that, “If Siddaganga seer’s statements supporting separate religion status is false,
I would get my head tonsured.”

The members told DH that Siddaganga seer Shivakumara Swami has clarified that he has not extended his support for separate religion as claimed by Patil. “So we have sent soap, sandalwood piece and a shaving set to the minister’s address,” the members said.

They alleged that the seer’s name is being misused for political gains and this has hurt the sentiments of thousands of people. The minister should seek a public apology, they demanded.

DH News Service