Mysuru: About 50 members of Lingayata Dharma Samanvaya Samithi, demanding a separate religious status for the community, took out a rally from Gandhiji’s bust in front of City Court Complex to the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office here this morning.

The members contended that Basavanna too had pointed out that all Sharanas should be together and hence urged the State Government to impress upon the Centre to recognise Lingayat as a separate religion.

They later submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner.

The rally was led by Samithi leaders Chowhalli Lingaraj, Shivanand Swamy, H.P. Gangadara Swamy, V. Shivarudrappa, K.S. Nanjappa, Basava Yogesh and advocate Mahesh.