Bengaluru: A faction of the Lingayat community, who had gathered in Bidar on July 18, revived the demand for the formation of a separate religion for Lingayats. This has resulted in a controversy as Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has responded positively to their demand. And following the CM’s comments, former CM and BJP State President B.S. Yeddyurappa said that Siddharamaiah was dividing the  Lingayat community.

Now it is the turn of Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil to jump into the fray by saying that Lingayat community had all the distinct characteristics to qualify as a separate religion. Patil, who belongs to the Lingayat community, said yesterday that the demand for the status of an independent religion was not new.

Taking exception to a statement issued by Pejawar Seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji that Lingayats are part of the Hindu religion, he said, “Let the Udupi Seer not meddle with Lingayats. We can look for guidance and advice from towering religious personalities among the Lingayats, including that of Siddaganga, Suttur, Muruga Mutts and other Lingayat heads.”

The Seer had said Lingayats and Veerashaivas are parts of Hinduism as they worship Lord Shiva and should stop all chaos to shed Hinduism aiming at the benefits available for the minorities. The Seer said that the Lingayat and Veerashaiva community people should not talk about separation from Hinduism as they are an integral part of the Hindu religion. Explaining that the Lingayat religion came into existence during the 12th century, Minister Patil asserted that Lingayat was a separate religion like Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism or Islam.

“Basavanna had floated the Lingayat religion which was more radical and inclusive in nature. It has distinctive characteristics of equality and respect for all sections in the society. The Vachanas scripted by various noble persons and votaries of Basavanna are the religious scripts of Lingayats,” he said.

Asked about his opinion on Yeddyurappa, who is opposed to the idea, he said, “Yeddyurappa is under the clutches of the RSS, which is against conferring the status of a separate religion for Lingayats. If he (Yeddyurappa) comes out of the influence of RSS, he will also support a separate religion tag for  Lingayats.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has said in Bengaluru that he has not received any representation or appeal by Lingayat community to consider it as a separate religion. “I have not received any representation and without that how can I recommend anything,” he said.