Published Dec 29, 2023 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 29, 2023 | 9:00 AM
All India Veerashaiva Mahsabha pushes for a separate religion status. (supplies)
In a significant development ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha (AIVM) has pushed for Veerashaiva-Lingayats to be recognised independently, which would do away with identifying the community under the Hindu fold.
Along with appealing to people from the community to register as Veerashaivas or Lingayats in the ‘religion column’ in any census that may be held next, the Veerashaiva Mahasabha also rejected the Kantharaju Committee’s socio-economic and education survey report — deemed as caste census — and appealed to the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government for a scientific resurvey. The demand is an echo of what Vokkaliga community leaders too have urged for.
In its 24th convention, the AIVM passed eight resolutions — each said to be echoing its dedication to social, economic, and cultural upliftment.
These resolutions were passed by Congress veteran and AIVM Chairman Shamanur Shivashankarappa on the final day of the convention in Davanagere on 24 December. BJP veteran and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s daughter is one of the office bearers in the Mahasabha.
Although the Mahasabha’s resolution says that the decision to identify members as different from Hindus is to assess the actual population of the community, these developments, especially doing away with Hindu religion as an umbrella identity and stressing for a separate religion status, has led to speculations that Veerashaiva-Lingayats are likely to seek a separate religion status for the community in the future.
Several community leaders including Karnataka’s former Chief Minister and Congress MLC Jagadish Shettar appealed for unity in the community and coming together of both Mathas (religious monasteries) – Guru and Viraktha. An appeal was also made for all sub-sects within the Veerashaiva-Lingayat fold to unite in the community’s fight for an independent identity.
In 2018 when the previous Congress government led by Siddaramaiah had recommended to the Union government to accord separate minority religious tag for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, BJP leaders in Karnataka, several pontiffs and leaders from the community had vehemently opposed it.
The socially, politically and economically influential community is seen as a dependable vote bank for the BJP in Karnataka.
Meanwhile, the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM) – that has been consistently fighting for an independent religious identity – welcomed the AIVM’s decision to be recognised as an entity independent of Hindu identity.
The JLM sought to know the stance of BJP, RSS, Panchacharyas and BS Yediyurappa on the matter.
In its 24th convention, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha championed a pivotal resolution. It called upon its community members to describe themselves as either “Veerashaiva” or “Lingayat” in the religion column instead of identifying under the broader term “Hindus.”
This distinctive appeal encapsulates the essence of the Mahasabha’s commitment to assert its identity and cultural distinctiveness.
The Veerashaiva Mahasabha deliberated and passed eight resolutions:
Speaking to South First, former Chief Minister from BJP and now Congress MLC Jagadish Shettar said that he endorsed the idea of a separate religious identity for the community.
“It is true that I have also proposed a separate religion tag for Veerashaiva-Lingayats. But before that, pontiffs of Guru and Viraktha mathas must set aside their differences and chant the unity mantra,” Shettar said.
The senior Lingayat leader added, “None should differentiate between the sub-sects in the community. Earlier, there were apprehensions about division of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community as the government had recommended separate religion status for both the communities. Hence, we had opposed it back then,” he said.
Adding that the resolution was a decision of the Veerashaiva Mahasabha, Shettar said that no political party, religious leaders had held discussions on the issue yet.
Meanwhile, the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM) has backed the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha’s (AIVM) stance on separate religious identity.
Pointing out that the resolution marks a significant departure from Veerashaiva Mahasabha’s historical position, JLM General Secretary and former IAS officer SM Jamdar drew parallels with his outfit’s assertion that Lingayats are not Hindus.
“AIVM’s resolution aligns with our long-standing belief that Lingayats should not be considered Hindus. We appreciate this change, especially considering AIVM’s historical opposition to our movement for religious recognition,” SM Jamdar told South First. He, however, highlighted the conflicting positions taken in the past.
“When JLM initiated the movement for Lingayat’s religion status, Veerashaiva Mahasabha, along with RSS, BJP, and the Panchacharyas, vehemently opposed it,” he said.
“Those who opposed us included former CM BS Yediyurappa, the RSS, the BJP, and Panchacharyas. Now they are participating in the Veerashaiva Mahasabha rally where this resolution was passed. We want clarity on their stance and if their opinion has changed,” Jamdar said adding that the Lingayat Mahasabha’s demand for separate religious identity was opposed in the past by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
JLM General Secretary SM Jamdar asserted that the outfit is set to challenge the Union government’s rejection of a recommendation to give separate religious identity tag to the community.
The Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha has prepared a fresh draft to counter the Union government’s reply to Karnataka government’s recommendation of recognising the community as a religious minority, separate from the Hindu fold.
Ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly Polls, the then Siddaramaiah-led-Karnataka government recommended separate religion status for Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Lingayats to the PM Narendra Modi-led-Union government. The Congress’ debacle in 2018 assembly election was partly credited to this move.
“In its response to the state government’s recommendation, the union government had listed three reasons to reject the proposal of separate religious identity. We have rejected all the three reasons cited. Those reasons are false. Even the state government is yet to reply to the Centre. We have already drafted a fresh reply to the Centre and will send it at the earliest. We will also make it public in the coming days,” SM Jamdar, General Secretary of JLM told South First.
