Religion tag for Lingayats sought

Belagavi: Members of Rashtriya Basav Dal, led by district president Ashok Bhendigeri, staged a protest here on Tuesday, demanding separate religion status for the Lingayat community. A memorandum submitted to DC Nitesh Patil stated that the central government has rejected the proposal recommended by the Siddaramaiah government regarding separate religion status for the Lingayat community. It suggested Basavaraj Bommai-led government to resend the proposal to the centre. Ashok Bhendigeri urged the state government to declare Basaveshwar as Karnataka's cultural leader, name the Gulbarga University after Basaveshwar and keep free entry to Aikya Mantap in Kudal Sangam. He warned of an indefinite protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru from February 20, if the demands are not fulfilled. TNN