Siddaramaiah for Veerashaiva Lingayat as separate religion

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he will recommend to the Centre to make ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat’ a separate religion.

Speaking after being feted by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha at Palace Grounds here, Siddaramaiah asked the persons on dais the proper name of the tradition,  'Veerashaiva' or 'Lingayat'.
Answering the chief minister's question, Municipal Administration Minister Eshwar Khandre said, "It is Veerashaiva Lingayat religion."

Siddaramaiah continued, "We will consult the leaders of the community and arrive at a name before making the recommendation to the Centre."

Claiming that he loves people from all castes, the chief minister quipped, "No one makes a choice to be born in a particular caste. I am not for any caste. Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and Ksheera Dhare programmes do not make any discrimination.”

Mahasabha president and MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa urged the chief minister to open a centre for studying vachana sahitya at Kudalasangama. "There are 60 sub sects in the community and all of them should be brought under Veerashaiva religion.”