'Drop proposal on separate religion status to Lingayats'
Members of Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha district unit stage a protest in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday.
Urging the state government to drop proposal on separate religion status for Lingayats, the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha district unit and members of Veerashaiva community staged a protest on Saturday.
The protesters took out a procession from taluk office to Azad Circle on the occasion. The protesters accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of dividing Veerashaiva and Lingayats in the name of religion.
Mahasabha district general secretary Eshwarappa Kote condemned the move of the state government for recommending separate minority religion status for Veerashaiva Lingayat and Lingayats. The proposal should be dropped.
Mahasabha district tresurer Chandramouli said, "The government should not interfere in religious matters. The state government is engaged in dividing the religion."
Proposal to Centre
He said, "Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha had submitted a proposal to the Centre in 2013 to accord separate religion status for Veerashaiva Lingayats. Both Veerashaiva and Lingayats are the same."
Mahasabha youth wing district general secreatry G Veeresh said, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been engaged in dividing Veerashaiva Lingayats for selfish reasons."
A memorandum was submitted to deputy commissioner on the occasion.