As has already been indicated by the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha, the fight for independent religion status for Lingayat might take the legal route soon but at least not immediately as the thinking in the Lingayat camp is to explore all other options before approaching the court.
Although leaders and seers of the Lingayat movement have a feeling that the Union government led by the BJP might not consider their demand looking at the way the BJP “sided” with the advocates of Veerashaivism, who are against the demand, in the run-up to the Assembly elections in the State, they do not want to allow procedural lapses on their part before taking the legal route.
“No doubt that legal option is the last resort for us. However, we are first making every effort to follow due executive procedures before opting for it. If we go to court directly, then even the court may reject our plea stating that we have not exhausted our executive options,” said S.M. Jamdar, national general secretary of the Mahasabha.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said that according to legal experts, the Mahasabha should again ask the government to review its stand. “Going by the suggestion of experts, we are preparing a fresh proposal to be sent to the government again and we will wait for a fortnight for reply before taking the next step,” he said.
Similar is the view of Sri Nijagunananda Swami of Tontadarya Mutt, Mundargi, who vehemently advocates the Basava philosophy and has been part of the Lingayat movement. The swami said that while there would definitely be a legal option, attempts to convince the the Union government to consider the demand based on facts would be made.
“I know that the BJP is not in favour of our demand. The reasons given in the Union government’s letter for not considering our demand clearly indicate that the recommendation of the State government was not studied thoroughly. Although we are not hopeful of convincing the Union government, we will try again to convince it. We want to give some more time to the government to rethink,” he said.