Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Mar 26: "The population of Lingayat in Karnataka is more than Veerashaiva community. Except the two districts in old Mysuru region, Lingayat are in majority in districts of north and middle Karnataka regions. There are possibilities of the followers of Lingayat supporting Congress party in the assembly poll," said spiritual leader, Mathe Mahadevi.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday March 25, she noted that Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha president, N Tippanna, has said that people belonging to Veerashaiva community, angered by the decision on separate Lingayat religion, will not vote for Congress in the coming election. "This is absurd. Casting of votes is personal issue. One should not issue such narrow-minded statements,"she commented.
She said that B S Yeddyurappa had said that he is committed to the opinion of Siddaganga Swamiji and Mahasabha. "Junior Swamiji of Siddaganga Math has welcomed the decision of the government. But Yeddyurappa has now dragged politics into the issue. The Panchacharyas do not accept Basavanna as the religious head. At the same time, they claim Vachana literature as their religious scripture. How can they justify this stand? Pejawar Swamiji has said that Lingayat followers are Hindus as they worship Lord Shiva. But Lingayat do not worship Lord Shiva. They worship their 'Ishtalinga'. We do not follow caste system. Therefore, Lingayat is an independent religion. The Swamiji should understand this," she stressed.
"Union minister, Ananth Kumar, has said that the central government will not accept the recommendation of the state. But we are optimistic that Prime Minister, Modi, will accept it. We will soon meet the Prime Minister and urge him on this issue," she added.
Mathe Mahadevi said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has given call for holding the convention of Jangamas at Basavana Bagewadi, and condemned the effort being made to separate Jangamas from Lingayat. She said Jangamas happen to be a sub-group within Lingayat. She predicted that Jangamas will be like fish out of water if they fall prey to the ploy of divide and rule being practised by RSS. She called upon RSS to get rid of narrow-minded attitude and become large-hearted.