I told Amit Shah Lingayats aren’t restricted to one party: Community leader

The “hype” in Karnataka elections about the demand to give Lingayats the status of a separate religion is a “very positive development”, says Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the head of the Chitradurga-based Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Math, which is perceived to have a powerful influence over the community.

Sharanaru, in an interview to Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, called chief minister Siddaramaiah a seasoned and a brilliant politician, but asserts that he will not issue any appeal to his Lingayat followers to vote for a particular party.

Will you ask your followers to vote for either the Congress or the BJP?

Ours is an apolitical but at the same time a secular math. We are against all forms of fundamentalism and casteism. I don’t want to put pressure on the people to vote for a particular party, because we are living in a democratic set-up. Voters nowadays have become shrewd and know what is right and what is wrong for them. I am hopeful they will take proper steps and try to evolve a consensus.

But weren’t the Lingayats a traditional vote bank of the BJP? Don’t you think the Lingayat vote is divided this time?

There is no confusion. Lingayats are very clear that they need the support of all political parties to get the status accorded. I told (BJP president) Amit Shah that Lingayats are not restricted to one party and belong to all parties such as the Congress, Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP. I told him that if you get the status accorded, people will be happy. That was my message to him.

Has the issue been politicised due to the approaching elections?

Unfortunately, the movement for a separate religious status for Lingayats got a political shape. Some people used this issue to attack the Congress government. Siddaramaiah, who is a seasoned politician and a brilliant person, was accused of dividing the Lingayats. It is a very sad development. He took some favourable steps on the issue. There are 99 sub-castes under the banner of Lingayats and Veerashaivas are one among those.

I call it a philosophical movement. The hype over our demand is a very positive development. This is for the first time that such level of publicity is being given to the issue and we are getting the opportunity to be heard. Even after the elections, we will continue our fight for a separate religious status.

Why have you launched the voter awareness campaign?

I request the people to vote compulsorily. In some countries like Australia, voting is compulsory. Through this campaign, I tell the public to vote and select a right candidate. Every vote has a value, so I urge them not to sell that.