Bengaluru: The Lingayat Camp fighting for a separate religion has decided to formally break away from the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha and create a new Vishwa Lingayat Parishat on Jan.23 to carry forward its campaign.

Speaking to press persons here yesterday, retired IAS officer S.M. Jamdar, who is spearheading the Lingayat religion campaign, said that the decision to create the Vishwa Lingayat Parishat is the result of unfruitful attempts to make peace with the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha. The new forum will be launched in Bengaluru on Jan. 23 and will be for all Lingayats across the globe to come together. The formation of the Vishwa Lingayat Parishat seeks to challenge the powerful clout of the 114 year old Akhila Bharata Veershaiva Mahasabha, which argues Veerashaivas and Lingayats are the same.

Maintaining that they tried to work with the Veerashaiva Mahasabha for the past eight months to iron out the differences, Jamdar said it was unfortunate that the Mahasabha tone remains the same and as such, they were left with no choice.

The Vishwa Lingayat Parishat will be different in that it will have a youth wing (Basava Sene), a professionals cell, a women call and a platform for Lingayats living overseas, he said and added that the Parishat will launch a membership drive soon.

Jamdar refused to comment on the Expert Committee constituted by the Government seeking six more months to submit its report on demands for separate religion status.