Bengaluru: Minister Shivasankarappa opposes religious minority tag to 'Basava' Lingayats


Bengaluru, Mar 21 (IANS): A senior Karnataka Minister on Tuesday termed the state cabinet's decision to grant religious minority tag to only Lingayat and Veerashaiva followers of 12th century social reformer Basava as an injustice to the entire community.

"The state government's decision to provide religious minority to only those who believed in Basava's philosophy is wrong and the height of injustice," state Horticulture Minister S Shivasankarappa told reporters at Davangere.

Admitting that initially he expressed happiness over the decision, the 86-year-old veteran Lingayat leader said he realised that it (decision) was one-sided after he went through the details of the cabinet note.

The minister, however, was not present at the cabinet meeting where the recommendation was deliberated and approved unanimously.

Refuting the observations of the committee that recommended the recognition, the minister said claims of its report that Veerashaiva faith did not exist before 12th century or Basava was incorrect, as Panchacharyas founded the Veerashaiva, which is an ancient religion.

"We still stick to our stand that both Veerashaivas and Lingayats are one and the same. We will never approve the government's decision," he reiterated after the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha opposed to the rider that only those who believed in Basava philosophy would get the recognition.

The state government had set up an expert committee, headed by former Karnataka High Court Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das under the Karnataka State Minorities Commission to consider the community's demand for a separate religious tag.

The committee submitted the report to the state government on March 2, favouring The committee submitted its report on March 2, 2018 recommending religious minority status for the community.

Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, who worship Hindu deity Shiva as their universal god, are the largest community (17 per cent) in the state, whose votes could influence the outcome of the state assembly election in April-May.

"The Mahasabha will meet in Bengaluru on March 23 to discuss the decision and chalk out the next course of action," said Shivashankarappa as its head.

The Siddaganga Math, however, welcomed the decision to accord the recognition to those who follow Basava's philosophy.

"We always stressed the all-inclusive attitude regarding the issue. We are happy as the government has included Lingayats and Veerashaiva in its recommendation," Math's junior pontiff Siddalinga Swami told reporters at Tumakuru.

The decision is expected to benefit the community academically and industrially.

"Jains follow certain rituals of Hinduism. Yet, Jainism was recognised as an independent religion. The status of an independent religion to a faith won't affect the existence of Hinduism," added the ponitiff.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Tony, Kinnigoli

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    “It was not in contemplation of the framers of the constitution to add to the list of religious minorities,” said the Supreme Court in the Bal Patil case (2003) refusing recognition of the Jains as a religious minority. In one of the most regressive judgments, the court, following the oft-repeated rightist argument, went on to observe that the “ideal of a democratic society, which has adopted right of equality as its fundamental creed, should be the elimination of majority and minority and so-called forward and backward classes.”
    The apex court further directed the Minority Commission to eliminate minorities when it shockingly said that “commissions set up for minorities have to direct their activities to maintain integrity and unity of India by gradually eliminating the minority and majority classes”. Through these kinds of judgments, the highest court of India has given legitimacy to those who believe in the “one nation, one religion” slogan.
    Religion is an indispensable part of human existence. Indians are essentially religious. Religion is still the alpha and omega of Indian life. The recommendation of the Karnataka government to the central government for the recognition of the Lingayats as non-Hindus and as a distinct religious minority has once again revived this debate. Though the Congress may win the small battle in Karnataka with this controversial decision, it is bound to lose the war in the Hindi belt. No one will remember that this demand is more than a hundred years old and that the Lingayats are distinct from Hindus in several fundamental beliefs.
    Another step towards internal division within Indian society. Was Muslim / Hindu, Reserved / General, Hindi speaking / Telugu,Tamil speaking not enough. ?! Punjabi, Bengali, South Indian, Marathi, Gujarathi, Bihari etc was not enough ?!! Constituition itself started with SC,ST and others. Article 370?? Hindu Code Bill v/s Uniform Civil Code??

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vineet, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    Only unity among all citizens is need of the society. Division of religion is very dangerous approach and will lead to communal imbalance in the society. ....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    If a community of people, its community leaders and religious leaders demand that they be recognized as a separate sect and religion, the government cannot reject this demand. The lingayat/veerashaiva community here is declaring that they are not hindus and are a separate entity and religion and demanding that they be recognized as such. Our secular constitution guarantees everyone the right to practice and preach his or her religion. Therefore there is nothing wrong with the government accepting this demand. This is not called division of society and religion. The government did not unilaterally on its own declare the Lingayats as a separate religion. It was done on the demand of this community.
    On the other hand it is the BJP which is dividing society and creating an environment of hatred when its leaders openly declare that minorities are not Indians and should be treated as second class Indians and that only hindus are citizens of the country and trying to impose their will on the people. Lynching people for their food habits in one state and declaring that those same food habits are Ok in other states, just for votes and gaining power.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh, Dubai

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    basavanna himself fought against cast sytem now they are giving his name on this cast ..its insult to basavanna also ..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • perchu, pervaje

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    what Basavanna told & what is this siddu govt doing? people are try to forget this religion/caste system but congress want this religion/caste system for their vote bank politics. they don't hesitate to divide religion for their vote bank politics.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aravind Shetty, Mangalore/Riyadh

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    86 year old and still on duty of minister!!!! Come on guys it's age for retirement and sit in "margadharshak mandal" and let the young blood take your place. We need to put educational qualification and age cap to every politicians. Hope some day it happens in India.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    This may be sorted out on discussion because anything new government adopt may have scope for changes.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    We are all children of One God ...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • pircki, panchanabetuu

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    After all these drama by congress & siddu, what is the benefit for a common lingayath & veerashaiva with “minority” card? Here the benefit is only for two parties, one is those who run education institutions & industries they will get the benefit under minority schemes. Second one is congress party who thought that they will get all these lingayath votes. For this reason only some lingayath ministers & siddu prepared this game plan. Common people won’t get any “minority” card benefits bcoz the reservation clause is removed & it wont applicable for this case. So what is the use for common people in this divide & rule system? where is the “samajavada”? this is nothing but helping some rich people/politicians in return of votes of the community.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • subhodh, kallianpur

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    I don't know why Mr.Siddu & congress dividing the people/society for their vote bank politics. dirty politics. now people will fight each other.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, MANGALORE

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    ..The Lingayat sect follows the 12th century poet and social reformer Basavanna or Basava, who defied the caste system..when Basavnna strived for eradicating caste system, this party giving new tags/ caste based quota and inciting fight people on caste!!..Congress completely going against his teaching..and party preseindt says he follows Basava teaching!!..

    DisAgree [7] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDA GUNDA, MANGALURU

    Wed, Mar 21 2018

    Basically people dont have any sense who dividing religion and proposing for "minority" status !

    DisAgree [5] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Bengaluru: Minister Shivasankarappa opposes religious minority tag to 'Basava' Lingayats



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