Veerashaiva Mahasabha fails to pacify dissenters

The stand-off continued between the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha and Lingayat community members who claim Lingayat dharma is different from Veerashaiva.

The Mahasabha on Wednesday stuck to its stand that Veerashaivas and Lingayats are one and the same and that separate religion status should be given for Veerashaiva-Lingayat dharma. Executive committee of the Mahasabha passed a resolution to this effect.

Senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa is the Mahasabha president, while Municipal Administration Minister Eshwar Khandre is its secretary general.

On the contrary, Water Resources Minister M B Patil, who is among the prominent leaders who are claiming Lingayat dharma is different from Veerashaiva, said that he is ready to face any consequence or make any sacrifice till his aim of getting separate religion tag for Lingayat dharma is achieved.

“Basavanna (12th century social reformer) founded the Lingayat religion 800 years back. What it requires is only a constitutional recognition,” Patil said and suggested that the Mahasabha must come to a conclusion only after a comprehensive discussion involving scholars and seers of various community mutts.

“Let there not be a street fight... Let us all sit together and discuss the issue,” Patil added.

Briefing reporters on decisions taken by the Mahasabha, Shamanur said the Mahasabha was formed 110 years ago. Confusion regarding Veerashaivas and Lingayats is only a fortnight-old. The Mahasabha will hold a meeting with all those who are talking of separation and will take everybody along, he added.

Veerashaivas and Lingayats are like two sides of the same coin. It was the Mahasabha that first demanded separate religion status for the dharma. The Mahasabha will work towards a consensus on the issue and will soon recommend to the Centre granting separate religion status to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat dharma, Khandre said.