Hubballi: A
Lingayat organization has demanded that the
Hubballi airport be named after
social reformer Basaveshwar. The demand comes after mounting pressure on the government to name the facility after
Sidharoodha Swami.
Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Prof B V Shirur, honorary president of Lingayat Swatantra Dharma Horata Samanvaya Samiti, said that a memorandum was submitted to Union civil aviation minister
P Ashok Gajapathiraju on December 12 when the upgraded Airport was inaugurated. "Petroleum minister
Ananth Kumar had assured of renaming the airport after Jagajyoti Basaveshwar on the occasion. He had also instructed the Karnataka government to send a proposal in this regard," he said.
M V Gongadashetti, president of the Samiti, said that Siddharoodh Swami is a pride of Hubballi-Dharwad and has devotees from all religions. "His name can be considered for Hubballi railway station, which is the zonal headquarters of South Western Railway. As teachings of Basaveshwar have been translated into 23 Indian languages and an idol is unveiled in London, he is recognized as Vishwa Guru twice in international all-religion conventions. So, the Hubballi airport can be named as Jagajyoti Basaveshwar International Airport," he said.
Asked about the demand to rename the airport after
Sangolli Rayanna, Lokesh M Koravi, the Samiti's secretary, said that
Bengaluru City railway station has been named after Rayanna.
Prabhu Angadi, vice-president of Samiti, said that Dingaleshwar Swami has demanded documents pertaining to the rejection of independent religion status to the
Veerashaiva religion. "It was an open secret that the proposal was rejected by the Union government as it had the word 'Veerashaiva'. Moreover, Dingaleshwar Swamiji is facing criminal charges. So, Lingayat leader Basavaraj Horatti need not debate with such swamijis who are misleading people," he said.
Samiti's spokesman S B Jodalli said that Panchacharya Swami should feel happy if all Veerashaivas get independent status for the Lingayats. "They are provoking Dingaleshwar Swamiji to issue statements against Lingayatism," he said.
