Mysuru: Even as the demand seeking separate religion status for Lingayats has reached feverish pitch, Minister for Mines and Geology, Vinay Kulkarni, who is one among the front-line leaders spearheading the campaign, met Hosmutt Seer Sri Chidananda Swamiji at the Mutt premises in Agrahara here yesterday.

The two are said to have held a closed door meeting for over an hour. Later speaking to press persons, Vinaya Kulkarni said that he had come to Mysuru after taking part in the ongoing Suttur Jatra, after which he came to Hosmutt. Maintaining that he had held talks with Suttur Mutt Seer on Lingayat religion status issue earlier, the Minister said that the Seer had taken a neutral stand on the issue for now.

He would invite the Suttur Seer for the massive Lingayat Convention to take place shortly, Kulkarni said and added that the Lingayat campaign is based on records.