Hubballi: In a show of strength demanding Constitutional recognition for Lingayats as an independent religion, the Lingayat Mega Convention held at Nehru Stadium in Hubballi yesterday urged Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to recommend the same to the Union Government at the earliest.

Lingayat Seers, who addressed the gathering, demanded that the State Government take a proper decision by December end to send a recommendation to the Union Government to accord a separate religion tag to Lingayats.

Explaining the importance of getting a separate religion tag for Lingayats, the Seers said that the Government should not make any further  delay in sending recommendation to the centre.

JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti said that the Veerashaiva Mahasabha should join hands with them under single umbrella of Lingayat to exert pressure on the Government for minority tag.

Maintaining that there is no politics involved in separating Lingayats from Veerashaiva, Horatti said that it was very essential for Veerashiva leaders to join hands with Lingayats to uplift the downtrodden  people with in the community.

Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil said that the struggle for a separate religion tag was not new. He called upon Lingayats who are attached to BJP and RSS to come out and support the demand for separate religion tag for Lingayats.

Mines & Geology Minister Vinay Kullkarni said that the agitation is not against anyone and Lingayats are not against Jangamas. He asked the Seers of all Virakta Mutts to join the struggle before the next rally being planned at Bengaluru in December end or January first week or vacate their Mutts.

Retired IAS Officer S.M. Jamadar said that an alternative organisation of Lingayats would be formed if Akhila Baharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha fails to change its stance.

Later, a rally was taken out from Nehru Stadium to Rani Chennamma Circle, where the statue of Chennamma was garlanded.

BJP Lingayat leaders give rally a miss

Prominent Lingayat leaders from the BJP, such as Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar, MLA Arvind Bellad and others did not    attend the rally.

Moorusavira Mutt Seer Gurusiddaraja Yogindraswamiji, who expressed his unhappiness over rally, did not turn up.