<p align="justify">Horticulture Minister S S Mallikarjun on Saturday welcomed the resolution passed by Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha rejecting the Cabinet decision on Lingayat issue, and instead seeking religious minority status to Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.</p>.<p align="justify">He was speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of the convocation of University of Horticultural Sciences here.</p>.<p align="justify">Hitting back at Water Resources Minister M B Patil's statement that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are two separate entities, Mallikarjun said, "Not all members are same in a house. A few try to keep the family united while a few others try to destroy it, the minister said making an indirect reference to Patil.</p>.<p align="justify">"Earlier, a proposal was sent to the Centre seeking separate religion tag for Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities. The Union government did not reject our request. So, we will seek the Centre again to reconsider our plea," Mallikarjun, son of Veerashaiva Mahasabha president Shamanur Shivashankarappa, said.</p>.<p align="justify">To a specific query, he said, "Let's not mix the Veerashaiava-Linagayat issue with politics."</p>
<p align="justify">Horticulture Minister S S Mallikarjun on Saturday welcomed the resolution passed by Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha rejecting the Cabinet decision on Lingayat issue, and instead seeking religious minority status to Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.</p>.<p align="justify">He was speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of the convocation of University of Horticultural Sciences here.</p>.<p align="justify">Hitting back at Water Resources Minister M B Patil's statement that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are two separate entities, Mallikarjun said, "Not all members are same in a house. A few try to keep the family united while a few others try to destroy it, the minister said making an indirect reference to Patil.</p>.<p align="justify">"Earlier, a proposal was sent to the Centre seeking separate religion tag for Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities. The Union government did not reject our request. So, we will seek the Centre again to reconsider our plea," Mallikarjun, son of Veerashaiva Mahasabha president Shamanur Shivashankarappa, said.</p>.<p align="justify">To a specific query, he said, "Let's not mix the Veerashaiava-Linagayat issue with politics."</p>