Mysuru: Senior MLC and former Minister Basavaraj Horatti, who is also the President of Swatantra Lingayat Dharma Vedike, has asserted that there was no political motive behind the demand for separate Lingayat religion tag.

Speaking after inaugurating the Lingayat Cultural Committee at Nataraja Sabhabhavan, Hosamutt, Agrahara in city yesterday, Horatti said that one should not get confused over the demand for separate Lingayat religion as the demand was meant for societal good.

Clarifying that he had no personal interest in the Movement for separate Lingayat religion, he maintained that Lingayats were being academically, economically and socially exploited.

Claiming that the Panchapeethas had misunderstood the Movement, Horatti asserted that he, Ministers M.B. Patil and Vinay Kulkarni and other community leaders, are spearheading the Movement, setting aside political interests.

Continuing, the MLC said that the then Home Minister of the UPA Government Sushil Kumar Sindhe had turned down an appeal made to the Centre seeking separate Lingayat religion tag, on the grounds that the term Veerashaiva Lingayat contained the word ‘Shaiva.’

Stating that there were 1.44 crore Lingayats in Maharashtra, 45 lakh in Tamil Nadu, 60 lakh in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and 1.53 crore in Karnataka, he said that despite this numbers, the community was deprived of reservation in jobs and education. He stressed on the needs for all community Mutts, including Panchapeetha and Virakta Mutts, to come together and join the struggle for separate Lingayat religion tag.

Alleging that Legislators from non-AHINDA communities such as Lingayats, Brahmin and Vokkaliga were being ignored by the Siddaramaiah Government, Horatti said that officials and other staff from these three communities were not spared either.

Calling for an end to this sort of discrimination by the Siddharamaiah Government, Horatti reiterated the need for a separate Lingayat religion in order to get justice for the community.

Devanur Dasoha Mutt Seer Mahanta Swamiji dismissed allegations that the Seers supporting the Lingayat religion tag had taken money. Maintaining that the Seers were supporting the Movement only for the sake of community members, he said that it was the responsibility of the Seers to come to the aid of the community when it was facing difficult times.

Neelakanteshwara Mutt Seer Siddamalla Swamiji, Lingayat Samskrutika Samiti President L. Shivalingappa, office-bearers M.Raju, M. Ambale Shivananda Swamy, Mahadevappa, B.M. Marappa, M. Shivakumaraswamy and others were present.

Even as the programme was underway, some members of Basava Balagagala Okkoota and Akhila Bharath Veerashaiva Mahasabha gheraoed Hosamutt Seer Chidananda Swamiji, accusing him of the brain behind the establishment of Lingayat Samskrutika Samiti as part of the Movement for Lingayat religion tag. The members led by Basava Balagagala Okkoota President T.S. Lokesh, alleged that the Seer was dividing Veerashaiva-Lingayat community and also misleading the society by supporting the Movement.