<p align="justify">Senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday said the state government should appoint a committee of experts to study whether the Constitution has a provision to declare a community as an independent religion.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />Shettar, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, told reporters here that discussions in favour of and against a separate religion status for the Lingayat community are being held. But, it should be first decided whether there is a scope for this in the Constitution.<br /><br />There should be clarity on whether state and Union governments have the power to declare any community as an independent religion. The present demand being raised in this regard is ‘temporary political tactics’ and through this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trying to divide society. Veerashaiva and Lingayat seers should not blame each other, but together hold discussions and come to a consensus on the issue, Shettar opined.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />On I-T raids<br />The former chief minister said the BJP has no role in I-T raids on the residence of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar. The I-T department is independent and its officials conduct raids based on the information they collect. The Congress leaders are blaming the BJP just to hide their mistakes, he added.<br />DH News Service<br /><br /></p>
<p align="justify">Senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday said the state government should appoint a committee of experts to study whether the Constitution has a provision to declare a community as an independent religion.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />Shettar, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, told reporters here that discussions in favour of and against a separate religion status for the Lingayat community are being held. But, it should be first decided whether there is a scope for this in the Constitution.<br /><br />There should be clarity on whether state and Union governments have the power to declare any community as an independent religion. The present demand being raised in this regard is ‘temporary political tactics’ and through this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trying to divide society. Veerashaiva and Lingayat seers should not blame each other, but together hold discussions and come to a consensus on the issue, Shettar opined.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />On I-T raids<br />The former chief minister said the BJP has no role in I-T raids on the residence of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar. The I-T department is independent and its officials conduct raids based on the information they collect. The Congress leaders are blaming the BJP just to hide their mistakes, he added.<br />DH News Service<br /><br /></p>
