Belagavi witnessed a mega rally with more than a lakh of people in attendance, as heads of various Lingayat mutts and political leaders lead the rally, on Tuesday, to step up the demand for an independent religion status for the Lingayat community.
While the rally drew huge crowds from across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra and Kerala, the absence of Veerashaiva pontiffs exposed the widening rift between the Lingayats and the Veershaivas, who were once considered as one.
As many as 50 seers of the Virakta Mutts (followers of Basavanna philosophy) expressed their displeasure over the Pancha Peethas (of Veershaivas) refusing to distance themselves from Hinduism. The informal association of various mutts have announced similar rallies in Gulbarga (September 10) and Mysuru (October 22) to unite and mobilise the community. A book titled Lingayat Dharmadalli Enuntu Enilla by Ramzan Dargah was released on the occasion.
While the Lingayat leaders from the BJP, including its tallest leader B.S. Yeddyurappa have distanced themselves from the developments, many Congress leaders have maintained a safe distance fearing that they would be blamed for breaking down the community. However, Congress leaders—MP Prakash Hukkeri, Dharwad district incharge minister Vinay Kulkarni, former MLC Veeranna Mattikatti, Bidar MLA Ashok Kheny and JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti—have taken the lead in this campiagn.
JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti, in his speech, asked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat not to “poke his nose in the community affairs”, in response to a reported statement of RSS chief in Hubballi last Saturday, where he is said to have urged Veerashaiva mutts to convince the community leaders to drop the demand.
Former bureaucrat Shivanand Jamdar said, “Lingayat community is at least 900 years old and was never part of Hinduism. What status will the community get in Hinduism? A few Veerashaiva mutts are misleading the community by preaching and practicing Vedic thoughts and rituals, which had been opposed by Basaveshwara.”
Jayabasava Mrutyunjay Swami warned that political leaders who tried to divide the community would be asked to give up the Lingayatism. “I want to also tell Bhagwat that we believe in Ambedkar’s Constitution and not that of Manuwadis. We follow modern principles of democracy and not vedic philosophy.”
