Karnataka asked to take a relook at Lingayat issue

The Centre is likely to return the Karnataka government’s proposal on granting a separate religion status to Lingayats, saying the new government can send a fresh proposal after further deliberation. The Union home ministry said that since a new government has come to power, it can reconsider the issue and send the fresh proposal for the Centre’s consideration.

However, Karnataka chief secretary K Ratna Prabha said her office has not received any file from the Centre.

The previous Siddaramaiah-headed Congress government had recommended to the Centre to grant a separate religion status to the Lingayat community. The home ministry, which first studied the proposal, had sent it to the minority affairs ministry. The minority affairs ministry, in turn, suggested the proposal be sent back to the state government.