With the leaders of Lingayat and Veerashaiva groups unwilling to come to a consensus on the former's demand for a separate religion status, the Veerashaiva Mahasabha has announced that a massive rally would be held in Bengalavi on August 22 and the decision made on that day would be final, the Deccan Chronicle reported.
This announcement comes just days after the pontiffs of Lingayat Mutts in North Karnataka announced that another mammoth rally would be held in Belagavi on August 22 just like the one in held in Bidar earlier.
However, at the meeting conducted by the Mahasabha claims that Veerashaivas and Lingayats are the same.
“Veerashaivas and Lingayats are like two sides of the same coin and the decision taken by Veerashaiva Mahasabha regarding Lingayats demanding a separate religion will be final and the entire community must accept it,” said Murughendra Swami of Ghodgeri.
Other pontiffs including Veerabhadar Shivacharya Swami of Chandargi and Chandrashekhar Shivacharya Swami of Hukkeri said echoed the Ghodgeri pontiff’s words and said that both Veerashaivas and Lingayats are united in Karnataka except for a few petty differences between them.
“We will solve this problem,” the seers said.
According to DC, Shivanand Jamdar, a retired IAS officer, officially announced the organisation of a massive Lingayat rally on August 22at Lingaraj College grounds in Belagavi and said that pontiffs from Lingayat Maths and lakhs of people would participate.
Meanwhile, Water Resource Minister MB Patil said that a meeting of all the seers of various mutts across the state would be held on August 10 to determine the further course of action.
Patil, a Lingayat himself told the media on Saturday that this issue “is not going to divide the community”.
“We are taking certain decisions on this issue and planning to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister after the meeting. It is up to CM Siddaramaiah to either consult with experts or forward the memorandum to the central government for the further course of action. Let the Centre take the final call on the issue,” Patil added.