The demographically and politically strong Veerashaiva-Lingayat community’s representative organisation Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha recently resolved to appeal to the community members not to identify themselves as “Hindu” or by their subcastes during the census. Instead, it wants them to mention “Veerashaiva” or “Lingayat” before the religion column as per the resolution.
The complete absence of any response to this stand of the mahasabha by Sangh Parivar and the BJP is baffling many, considering that they had before the 2018 Assembly elections taken strong exception to the then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government’s move to recommend separate religion status for Veerashaiva-Lingayats. BJP leaders had launched a scathing campaign against those championing the cause, alleging that they were bent on “dividing the community.”
The recommendation from the State government, naturally, did not receive any support from the BJP-led Union government and it was returned to the State. BJP had made it an important election issue, alleging that Congress was trying to divide the religion for the sake of political gain. The community also stood divided on the issue, with those affiliated to BJP and some of the Veerashaiva seers strongly criticising Mr. Siddaramaiah. It is believed that this adversely impacted the Congress in 2018 election in some parts, a point disputed by those championing cause, particularly Jagatika Lingayata Mahasabha.
