Lingayat seers give call to support Congress in Karnataka assembly polls

BENGALURU: The state government's decision to seek minority religion status for the politically influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community from the Centre has proved to be a shot in the arm to the Congress, as a forum of Lingayat seers on Saturday indirectly gave a call to the community to support the party in the upcoming assembly elections.

"Ours is an apolitical forum and we don’t want to get involve in electoral politics. But, we have decided to support those who supported us," Shivamurthy Murugha Rajendra Swami of Chitradurga Murugha mutt said after a meeting of the forum in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Around 50 pontiffs of Lingayat mutts attended the meeting and agreed to continue their fight till the Centre accords minority status to the community. Lingayats constitute 17 percent of Karnataka's population.

Mathe Mahadevi of Basava Dharma Peetha, however, was more vocal and minced no words in extending support to Congress. "I personally support Congress and I appeal to Lingayats to support the Congress. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has taken a bold decision despite stiff opposition from the seers of Veerashaiva mutts," she said.

She also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accord religious minority status to Lingayats before April 18 which happens to be birth anniversary of the 12th century social reformer Basavanna.

A proposal sent by the Siddaramaiah government seeking minority status to Lingayats under Section 3(c) of the National Commission for Minorities is pending for approval before the Centre since March 23.

'Who is Shah?'

The meeting also strongly condemned BJP president Amit Shah for allegedly opposing minority status to Lingayats.

"Who is he to oppose? Is is a minister in Modi cabinet? Is he a chairperson of the National Commission For Minorities? In what capacity is he issuing statements? We strongly condemn his stand on the issue. The BJP is trying to sideline major community like Lingayats in Karnataka like they did to Yadavs and Patels in UP and Gujarat respectively. So we should not allow it to happen in Karnataka," the forum said.

However, Veerashaiva seers criticized the Lingayats decision to back the Congress party.

"The call given by seers to support Congress is politically motivated and we condemn it. If they (Lingayat seers) are so interested in supporting Congress, let them join politics and bat for the party. These swamijis are misleading the society," said Veera Someshwara Shivacharya Swami, seer of Rambhapuri Peetha.