Daijiworld Media Network - Bidar (SP)
Bidar, Aug 22: The movement to win over minority religion tag for Lingayat that had gained momentum sometime back, and which is also being held responsible for the debacle of the Congress in several assembly constituencies in the recent election, has been put on the back-burner. The leaders will stay away from spearheading any agitation in this direction till the coming Lok Sabha election is concluded. An official communication was issued by Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha in this connection.
It is said that it has been decided to suspend the movement, which is spearheaded by former minister, M B Patil, for the time being as it is generally felt that its continuance at a time when election is approaching might give wrong signals to the people. The leaders feel that during the Lok Sabha election, opponents might try to overcome the movement by assigning political ambitions to it. Therefore, it has been decided not to hold any agitations, rallies, protests etc till the Lok Sabha election is held, said general secretary of Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha, Srikantha Swamy, in a release.
Discussions had been held by the Sabha leaders with former minister, M B Patil, here on August 13 about the desirability of continuing with the agitation. Discussions about problems, setbacks etc arising out of the movement so far were also held at this meeting. Thereafter, the power to decide about the future course of the agitation was given to M B Patil. As per Patil's decision, a stand has been taken to keep the agitation in abeyance till the Lok Sabha election, Srikantha Swamy said in the release.
He said that the Lingayat people are hopeful that the central government based on the scientific report submitted by a team of experts appointed by the previous Siddaramaiah-led government, will extend the recognition of minority religion status to Lingayat. If the central government rejects the proposal, fight will be carried out through courts to get the rights, he added.
The leaders who attended the meeting said that principles preached by Basavanna and Lingayat religion he founded do not have anything to do with politics. They said that everyone should work in unison to get the facility that is the question of one's existence. "Having born as Lingayat, it is the duty of the concerned to propagate the principles of Basavanna and other Sharanas. But during the previous election, our own people gave the agitation the political hue," they opined.