Lingayats’ religion status row back to the fore as BJP takes exception to stand of mahasabhas

The socio-educational survey (caste census) in the State, scheduled to begin on September 22, appears to have yet again driven a wedge within the larger Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, the largest caste group in the State with a population of about seven crore.

Amidst misgivings about the manner in which the enumeration is to be done, the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha is hosting the Veerashaiva-Lingayat Ekata Samavesha at Hubballi on September 19, from which functionaries of the Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha are expected to stay away.

While the Veerashaiva Mahasabha has asked the community members to enumerate themselves as Veerashaiva-Lingayats in the religion column under “others”, the Lingayat Mahasabha has asked them to enumerate themselves as Lingayats in the “others” column.

‘Congress ploy’

The BJP has taken exception to this, and the saffron party leaders are claiming that it is the “Congress’s ploy” to divide the larger Hindu community. Meanwhile, Panchamasalis — a numerically stronger sub-sect of Veerashiava-Lingayats — are learnt to be divided too, with separate meetings called by their seers heading the two mutts of Harihara and Koodalasangama on Wednesday.

The survey is being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes during which 60 questions will be posed to about 2 crore households to collect data on socio-educational and economic parameters.

The community leaders had claimed that their number was downplayed in the 2015 survey conducted by the H. Kantharaj Commission, which pegged their population at about 66.35 lakh, or about 11% of the State’s population, while claiming that their community constitutes about 17% to 22%.

The numerically strong and land-owning community has controlled the political landscape for decades in the Central, Mumbai Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka regions in the State.

On Tuesday, a meeting of Veerashaiva-Lingayat leaders in the BJP, in which the Lingayat strongman and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa participated, took stock of the developments ahead of the survey.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is dividing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. The Constitution recognises only six religions, but the ‘others’ column has also been provided to break the unity. The community is alert and will not fall prey to his political trick,” MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said after the meeting.

Taking exception to the columns for Brahmin Christians, Lingayat Christians and others, he asked, “Which part of the constitution has allowed the creation of separate columns for converts?”

‘To placate RSS’

However, Veerashaiva Mahasabha sources insisted that they will go ahead with the plan to enumerate Veerashaiva-Lingayats under the ‘others’ column, to which the religious heads have offered support. “Seers of about 1,500 mutts are expected to attend the convention, and they will create awareness among their disciples to enumerate themselves under the ‘others’ column. Article 25 of the Constitution provides us the right to choose religion,” said a source.

The source argued that the meeting had happened to “placate RSS”, and that many leaders who participated have offered support to the movement launched by mahasabha.

Mahasabha secretary H.M. Renuka Prasanna stated that, in an effort to confuse people, the commission has added 135 sub-sects of Veerashaiva-Lingayats, while the mahasabha had asked that only 91 sub-sects be added.