<p align="justify">Former prime minister and JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda, on Thursday, said that Veerashaiva-Lingayat faith has a rich history and that there was no need for a separate religion tag for Lingayats, reports DHNS from Hassan.</p>.<p align="justify">Addressing media persons here, Gowda alleged that "I don't know why the government has chosen two ministers to fight for the separate religion tag for Lingayats. We did not make any attempt to break the religion. We are in cordial relationship with the seers of Balehonnur, Siddaganga, Suttur and other mutts, and we don't feel any difference between the Veerashaivas and Lingayats. I am not aware of the ongoing debate on according minority status to the Lingayats," he said.</p>
<p align="justify">Former prime minister and JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda, on Thursday, said that Veerashaiva-Lingayat faith has a rich history and that there was no need for a separate religion tag for Lingayats, reports DHNS from Hassan.</p>.<p align="justify">Addressing media persons here, Gowda alleged that "I don't know why the government has chosen two ministers to fight for the separate religion tag for Lingayats. We did not make any attempt to break the religion. We are in cordial relationship with the seers of Balehonnur, Siddaganga, Suttur and other mutts, and we don't feel any difference between the Veerashaivas and Lingayats. I am not aware of the ongoing debate on according minority status to the Lingayats," he said.</p>
