Bengaluru: The State Cabinet on Thursday failed to arrive at a consensus on accepting the Expert Committee report on granting minority religion status to Lingayats.
A seven-member panel, headed by retired High Court Judge H.N. Nagamohan Das, had recommended granting minority status to the community, but the Cabinet was divided in its opinion and deferred a decision to Mar.14.
The Justice Nagamohan Das panel was constituted by the Karnataka State Minorities Commission to study the community’s demand for a separate religion tag. Based on the panel’s report, the Minorities’ Commission had asked the Congress Government to recommend to the Centre to accord minority status to the community.
The move is being seen as a poll strategy of the Congress to divide the large Veerashaiva-Lingayat vote bank which traditionally favours the BJP.
But sources said that the Cabinet discussed the issue for over three hours and failed to arrive at a consensus. “While Ministers Eshwar Khandre and S.A. Mallikarjuna vehemently opposed the idea of accepting the report, saying it will hurt the sentiments of the community, M.B. Patil and Basavaraj Rayareddy were in favour of the recommendations,” a senior Minister said.
Sources also revealed that Khandre and Mallikarjuna were wary of taking up the issue before polls, warning that it would benefit the BJP.
Briefing reporters soon after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said that the issue remained inconclusive due to lack of time for a more elaborate discussion.
He said some Ministers were also absent and the CM was keen on seeking their opinion.
Everything seems to be fair to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the runup to the ensuing assembly elections in Karnataka He is abusing powers, giving false assurances to the hapless people, dividing people to ensure for vote bank benefit to the Congress and what is worse is even admitting notorious scamsters and fraudsters into the party. After kicking up an unseemly row over giving a religion tag to Veerashaivas with a malafide intention of dividing the Lingayat vote bank believed to be traditionally behind the BJP he has prepared the ground for a separate flag to the Karnataka State. This is yet another with another divisive strategy of distinguishing between the Kannada speaking people from others in the State for further political advantage visa is the BJP and the JD(S) in the run up to the ensuing assembly elections.
all that 99 subsects of lingayt that they talk are all converted lingayats. the original lingyats are with veerashaiva. public be aware there are sc/st/ and others who have been converted by the mischief of lord baasaveshwaara for persona ego. at anycase lingayat and veerasahivs are both sides of the same coin as told by sri.shivakumar swmiji of siddaganga mutt. in spite of them some idiots minisers are harping on this issues. it is ridiculous. at the same time cm siddu is also doing politics here !
just look at the origin of thees 99 subsects lingayts who you will understand why theses mininsters are also jumping for this issue. they are all convertred lingayats like converted christians .
be aware . do not dron in pit by one or two ministers sweet words. continue to support veerasahiva as the origin of lingayatism. BASAVANNA IS NOT THE FOUNDER OF LINGAYITISM. iN FACT HE DID THE MISCHIEF TO OUR RELIGION.
Scandalous that the Laingayats who rule Mysore for 2 decades after 1950s are claiming minority community status. It is only in India, every community wants to be backward or minority except brahmins. This country is hence languishing in the third world status.
Why don’t you people clearly say who should be deprived of all opportunities in every field? Gowdas are preferred categories? Lingayats too will be minority status! Kurubas are too backward. Muslims and Christians too are very powerful! So, I think one or two castes will be discriminated! Doesn’t matter! Those castes are used to this treatment