Cabinet won’t clear Lingayat religion tag: Pralhad Joshi

Hubballi: MP Pralhad Joshi said that the report of Justice H N Nagamohan Das Committee, which was formed to look into the demand for a religion status for Lingayats, will not be passed as several Congress leaders are against it.
The state cabinet on Thursday failed to arrive at a consensus on accepting the expert committee report on granting minority religion status to Lingayats. A seven-member panel, headed by retired high court judge Nagamohan Das, had recommended granting minority status to the community, but the cabinet was divided in its opinion and deferred a decision to March 14.

Joshi told reporters here on Sunday, “The Congress is trying to divide the community. I will react only after the cabinet takes a call on the matter. I’m confident that the report will not be passed in the Cabinet as several Congress leaders are not in favour of it.”

While Shiroor seer Lakshmivara Theertha Swami has expressed his willingness to contest on a BJP ticket from Udupi if the party offers, the leader of opposition Jagadish Shettar said that the party will take a call on the matter soon. “I don’t want to discuss the matter in public. The party will come out with a decision internally,” he said.