Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reignited a long-standing debate by declaring Lingayat a separate religion. The statement has stirred controversy and brought back allegations of attempts to divide the community.
The Chief Minister's declaration comes amidst a resurfaced demand for separate religious status for Lingayats. This demand was prominent during the valedictory function of the Basava Samskruthi Abhiyan, an event organized by the Lingayat Matadeeshara Okkoota. The event highlighted existing divisions within the Lingayat community, particularly between those who identify as Lingayats and those who identify as Veerashaivas.
At the Basava Samskruthi Abhiyan, the Okkoota passed five resolutions, one of which urged for separate religion recognition to ensure government benefits and reservations, while also maintaining a broader affiliation with Hinduism. Shivanand Jamdar, secretary of Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha, and M.B. Patil, Minister for Heavy Industries, appealed to followers from over 300 Virukthamutts to support the movement.
The renewed push for separate religion status coincides with the ongoing Social and Educational Survey within the state, where both Veerashaivas and Lingayats are seeking separate categorization under the "others" column, but with different nomenclature. This has reportedly caused confusion and further division within the community.
Historically, the Lingayat community has been associated with the 12th-century social reform movement led by Basaveshwara. The community has a significant presence in Karnataka, as well as in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
Retired High Court judge H.N. Nagamohan Das, whose 2018 report led to Karnataka granting religious minority status to Lingayats, has called for a strong campaign at the national level to support the cause. While over 300 mutts were represented at the event, key leaders from the BJP, including former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Forest Minister B. Eshwar Khandre, were absent, underscoring the political and ideological rifts surrounding the issue.
This is not the first time the issue of separate religion status for Lingayats has surfaced. A similar campaign was launched in 2017-2018 by community leaders, including some from the Congress party, during Siddaramaiah's previous term as Chief Minister. The current statement and renewed demands have sparked concerns, with the BJP accusing the Siddaramaiah government of attempting to divide the Hindu religion and the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community for political gain. Some claim this is a repeat of events prior to the 2018 elections, which resulted in a setback for the Congress party.
Adding to the discussion, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also stated he would recommend to the central government that the city's metro be named "Basava Metro". He noted that if the project were entirely under the state government, he would have already made the announcement. He also mentioned that his government had declared Basavanna a "cultural icon" and mandated Basavanna's photograph in all public offices.
