Lingayat committee demands Basavanna's name for airport

Lingayat Swatantra Dharma Horata Samanvaya Samiti has demanded to name upgraded Hubballi Airport after Jagajyoti Shri Basaveshwar.

"We respect Shri Siddharooda Swamiji also, and Hubballi railway station can be named after him," Samiti President M V Gongadshetty said.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, he recalled that the Samiti had submitted a memorandum to Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju to name the airport after Basaveshwar, during the inauguration of the airport, while Union Chemicals & Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar had also assured to fulfill the demand, asking the State Government to send a proposal.

Basaveshwar has international fame, and international all-religion conferences have also considered him as 'Vishwaguru'. As Hubballi airport is now upgraded into international standards, it should be named after Basaveshwar. The State government should make a recommendation in this regard, while the Union Government should fulfill the demand, he added.

On Dingaleshwar Swamiji

The Samiti urged MLC Basavaraj Horatti not to hold debate with Shri Dingalehwar Swamiji of Balehosur on Lingayat independent religion issue, as the seer is facing criminal cases and is leveling baseless charges, Mr Gongadshetty noted.

Though he is a Virakta seer, Shri Dingaleshwar Swamiji joined Panchapeethadheeshas to insult Lingayat community. He is also asking to scrap the expert committee formed by the minority commission to look into the matter. Veerashaiva is just one among the sub-sects of the Lingayat, and Panchacharyas should have been happy if Lingayat community gets independent religion tag. They should not try to make Lingayat youth deprived of possible education and employment opportunities under the independent religion, he added.

Samiti office-bearers Dr B V Shirur, Prabhu Angadi, Lokesh Koravi, S B Jodalli, and others were present.