Daijiworld Media Network - Vijayapura (SP)
Vijayapura, Mar 26: Angered by the fact that Congress party doggedly pursued the agenda of declaring Lingayat as a separate religion, heads of various Veerashaiva Maths in the state openly declared war against the party.
They called upon the people to inflict defeat on chief minister, Siddaramaiah, minister, M B Patil, and five other ministers who worked together to break the community. "By falsely claiming that Lingayat religion is being created to accord religious minority tag to this community to achieve its overall progress, these leaders, backed by political interests and for the benefit of educational institutions being run by them, took the step of breaking the religion. Siddaramaiah and other leaders took decisions unilaterally, and therefore to teach a lesson to them, we should unitedly vote for the BJP," they said in their addresses.
Jagadguru Dr Prasannaveera Someshwara Shivacharya Swamiji of Rambhapuri Math, Dr Chandrashekhar Shivacharya of Kashi Peetam, Dr Channasiddarama Panditaradhya Shivacharya of Shreeshaila Peetam, and president of Hospet-Halkeri Math and Shjivayoga Mandir, Dr Sanganabasava Mahaswamiji provided to leadership to the Veerashaiva Lingayat convention organized on Sunday March 25 at the Darbar Maidan in the city. The spiritual heads of various Maths felt the situation is so critical that they are forced to a take a plunge into politics.
Dr Prasannaveera Someshwara Shivacharya Swamiji of Rabhapuri Math noted that minister, M B Patil, and some ministers had brought together lacs of people by promising to give minority status to Lingayat, and told them that a separate religion is being created. He said that these leaders have failed in providing reservation facility to the Lingayat, but have succeeded in getting reservation benefit for their educational institutions, thus duping the people who they lured by using religion. He also accused Justice Nagamohandas Committee of preparing a government-sponsored report without considering historic documents. He also accused chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and a few of his ministers of speaking lightly of the religious Pancha Peethas.
He threatened to file suit against retired IAS officer, Dr S M Jamdar and others who have been passing derogatory remarks about the Pancha Peetas.
Vamadeva Mahanta Swamiji said that it is necessary to defeat minister, M B Patil and other ministers who planned to break the religion together. He felt that Congress needs to be taught a lesson for interfering in the matter of Veerashaiva Lingaya religion, and regretted that BLDE institution founded by a great leader like Banthanala Swamiji is now becoming a puppet in the hands of vested interests. Dr Mahadeva Shivacharya Swmaiji of Babaleshwar said that M B Patil will face the curse for breaking the religion. He accused Congress leaders of being ungrateful and therefore advised people to politically teach the party a fitting lesson.