<p>The Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, headed by Congress veteran Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is expected to adopt a resolution Friday on the Cabinet decision to accord 'religious minority' status to Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats who believe in 12th century social reformer Basavanna's ideology.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivashankarappa has already opposed the government's decision, calling it "height of injustice." The March 19 Cabinet decision has evoked mixed reactions, with the Lingayat camp comprising Water Resources Minister M B Patil celebrating it whereas the Pancha Peethas (holy pantheon) opposing it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The BJP will keenly await the Mahasabha's stand and the saffron party, it is said, wants to leverage the rift that the Cabinet decision has caused within the Congress.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have convened a meeting of our executive committee members. Our point is that the recommendation that will be made to the Centre based on this Cabinet decision will not see fruition because a previous petition that was made seeking 'separate religion' status, which was signed by those who are now in the Lingayat camp, did not come through," Veerashaiva Mahasabha senior vice-president N Thippanna said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the run up to the Cabinet decision, the Lingayat and Veerashaiva camps had locked horns on what the religion should be called. Lingayats argued that theirs was a religion founded by Basavanna that was independent of the Veerashaiva faith. The Veerashaivas opposed this based on their argument that Lingayats and Veerashaivas were the same.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats (believers of Basava principles) will be recommended for grant of 'religious minority' tag, the Cabinet decided. Shivashankarappa has pointed out that the decision was flawed in that the Veerashaiva faith predated Basavanna.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, is wooing Shivashankarappa to join his party.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Yeddyurappa is also eyeing Congress legislators from Vijayapura district who are miffed with M B Patil, who has also emerged as a Lingayat leader in the region. For instance, Devarahippargi MLA A S Patil (Nadahalli) has already joined the BJP. Yeddyurappa is looking for ways to rope in Muddebihal MLA C S Nadagouda, Basavana Bagewadi MLA Shivanand Patil and Indi MLA Yeshwantraigouda Patil, sources said.</p>
<p>The Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, headed by Congress veteran Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is expected to adopt a resolution Friday on the Cabinet decision to accord 'religious minority' status to Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats who believe in 12th century social reformer Basavanna's ideology.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivashankarappa has already opposed the government's decision, calling it "height of injustice." The March 19 Cabinet decision has evoked mixed reactions, with the Lingayat camp comprising Water Resources Minister M B Patil celebrating it whereas the Pancha Peethas (holy pantheon) opposing it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The BJP will keenly await the Mahasabha's stand and the saffron party, it is said, wants to leverage the rift that the Cabinet decision has caused within the Congress.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have convened a meeting of our executive committee members. Our point is that the recommendation that will be made to the Centre based on this Cabinet decision will not see fruition because a previous petition that was made seeking 'separate religion' status, which was signed by those who are now in the Lingayat camp, did not come through," Veerashaiva Mahasabha senior vice-president N Thippanna said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the run up to the Cabinet decision, the Lingayat and Veerashaiva camps had locked horns on what the religion should be called. Lingayats argued that theirs was a religion founded by Basavanna that was independent of the Veerashaiva faith. The Veerashaivas opposed this based on their argument that Lingayats and Veerashaivas were the same.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats (believers of Basava principles) will be recommended for grant of 'religious minority' tag, the Cabinet decided. Shivashankarappa has pointed out that the decision was flawed in that the Veerashaiva faith predated Basavanna.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, is wooing Shivashankarappa to join his party.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Yeddyurappa is also eyeing Congress legislators from Vijayapura district who are miffed with M B Patil, who has also emerged as a Lingayat leader in the region. For instance, Devarahippargi MLA A S Patil (Nadahalli) has already joined the BJP. Yeddyurappa is looking for ways to rope in Muddebihal MLA C S Nadagouda, Basavana Bagewadi MLA Shivanand Patil and Indi MLA Yeshwantraigouda Patil, sources said.</p>
