Veerashaiva Mahasabha urges Veerashaiva-Lingayats to enumerate themselves under ‘others’ in religion column

The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Sunday appealed to the Veerashaiva-Lingayats to enumerate themselves as “others” instead of Hindu in the religion column during the socio-educational survey commencing on September 22.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, who is also the secretary general of the mahasabha, said that the Veerashaiva Lingayats should be clear in mentioning the sub-castes during the enumeration. “Only after checking the data, people should give their acceptance during the enumeration.”

Apart from the seven religions [Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrian], the column for religion provides ‘atheist’, ‘religion not known’, ‘refused to declare religion’, and ‘others’.

People can specify themselves in the ‘others’ category. The mahasabha had sought a separate religion status during the earlier enumeration in 2015, which was rejected since it was not a notified religion.

To prevent a repeat of the 2015 survey issues, the Minister said that people should identify themselves with their sub-castes. In 2015, many Veerashaiva Jangamas enumerated themselves as Beda Jangama, a Scheduled Caste, hoping to get reservation benefits.

Objection over Christian sub groups

Caste groups have also taken objection to the notification of various Christian sub groups in the list. Brahman Christian, Banajiga Christian, Banjara Christian, Ediga Christian, Devanga Christian, Lingayat Christian and Vokkaliga Christian are among those listed. The Christian community that receives reservation in Backward Classes Category 3 B is referred to as Christian.

The Akhila Bharatha Brahmana Mahasabha in its petition has pointed out that a person can either be a Brahmin or a Christian and not both, and sought withdrawal of the same. However, the previous survey had accounted for such Christian ‘sub castes’ and people had identified with the same.

Interestingly, during the survey of Scheduled Castes households recently for internal reservation, several Dalit groups had opposed enumeration of Dalit Christians citing Supreme Court order that has held the view that there is no caste system in Christianity.