Karnataka for religious minority tag to Lingayat

Bengaluru, March 19

In a decision fraught with political implications in poll-bound Karnataka, the state Cabinet today decided to recommend to the Centre grant of religious minority tag for the numerically strong Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community.

The meeting considered the recommendations of the Karnataka State Minority Commission amid reports of division among ministers and discordant notes from seers of the community.

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Lingayats/Veerashaivas, estimated to form 17 per cent of the state population, are considered the BJP’s traditional voter base. The move is seen as an attempt by CM  Siddaramaiah to wean away a section  towards the Congress.

Law Minister TB Jayachandra said the commission, based on the report of an expert committee, has recommended grant of recognition as a religious minority to the Linagayat and Veerashaiva Lingayats (Believers of Basava Tatva (philosophy).

Opposition BJP leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said the government was dividing the society for the sake of politics, and accused it of “igniting fire”. — PTI