Karnataka govt decision to seek religion tag for Lingayats

The Congress lead Karnataka government recommended a separate religion tag for Lingayat community in the state.

Assembly polls in Karnataka are just months away, and the current Siddaramaiah-led Congress government Cabinet decided to seek central government’s nod for giving Lingayats (including Veerashaivas who follow Basavanna) a separate religion tag. A 7-Member Expert Committee submitted a report to Karnataka Government favouring the demand.

Minor clashes broke out between a section of Lingayats and Veerashaivas in Kalburgi on Monday. Veerashaivas also burnt posters of CM Siddaramaiah.

Earlier A memorandum was sent to the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in 2013, where prominent Lingayat leaders had sought a separate religion status for Veerashaiva-Lingayats. One of the signatories of the memorandum was BS Yeddyurappa.