Lingayat row: Delegation to meet PM soon says seer

Dr Siddarama Swamiji of Rudrakshimath, Naganur, who is spearheading the Lingayat movement seeking a separate religion status for Lingayats, said that a delegation would visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for the demand.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, the seer said that the Center must implement the recommendations sent by the state government in this connection. Else, the ruling BJP at the Centre would draw the wrath of the Lingayat community in the state during the Parliamentary elections in 2019.

Siddarama Swamiji slammed Pancha Peetha Swamiji and other seers who are against separate religious status for Lingayat. "The matter is still pending before the Center, which is yet to take a call," he added.

"The Lingayat movement is strong, he has warned the Center. If it fails to concede our demands, it will compel us to take legal action," he added.

The seer claimed that the Lingayat movement had not impacted the electoral prospects of the Congress party. Despite the anti-incumbency factor, many Lingayat candidates were elected in the recent assembly elections.

He stressed that the Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy should not neglect north Karnataka or Lingayats, and induct M B Patil and Basawaraj Horatti into the cabinet.