Minister D K Shivakumar is no way connected to the agitation seeking separate religion status for the Lingayats. Hence, there was no need for him to seek an apology, said MLC Basavaraj Horatti.

D K Shivakumar is not even a part of the agitation, neither he is the Congress president nor a chief minister. He has unnecessarily stirred a controversy. This will send a wrong message to the people, the MLC said here on Tuesday.

“We took part in the agitation to uplift the poor and the oppressed members of the community. Students of the community should enjoy Constitutional rights and achieve progress in their lives. If an agitation is launched for the oppressed and the poor to enjoy Constitutional rigths, we are labelled as “Dividers of Religion.” Is it not ‘dharma’ to fight for the cause of the poor and the oppressed, he questioned.

“We withdrew from the agitation as it began taking a political hue and allowed the Committee that has been formed in this regard, to carry forward the stir. The agitation has got nothing to do with the elections nor the politcial parties, he clarified.