Bengaluru, Oct 6 (NationPress) A provocative declaration from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, suggesting that Lingayat constitutes a distinct religion, has ignited a heated exchange between two prominent Congress ministers—M.B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, and Eshwara Khandre, Minister for Forests. Both ministers represent the Lingayat community.

On Sunday in Bengaluru, CM Siddaramaiah reignited this contentious issue, which had previously been sidelined after the Congress-led government faced electoral challenges in 2017. He proposed to the Centre the recognition of Lingayat as a separate faith. In a twist, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar later expressed regret over efforts to establish a separate religion for Lingayats, leading to the resurgence of this debate.

In response to the controversy, Minister Patil remarked on Monday, “We are all Indians in geography and Hindus in belief. Similar to Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, we exist beyond the ‘chaturvarna’ (caste hierarchy) of Hinduism, as taught by the founder of the Lingayat faith, Basavanna.”

The All India Veershaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha is also beginning to align with this viewpoint. A resolution passed at a recent convention in Davanagere stated that Lingayats are not Hindus, advocating for their recognition as a separate religion. “This time, we stand united, and no one can manipulate this issue,” asserted Minister Patil.

He further noted that previous blame for this issue fell on CM Siddaramaiah, questioning, “Have Jains, Sikhs, or Buddhists caused any discord? They are all seen as Indic religions.”

In contrast, Minister Khandre emphasized that no force can separate Lingayats from Veerashivas, reinforcing their unity. “I prefer not to comment on statements from Lingayat leaders. The late Shivakumar Swamiji also provided clarity on this topic. There may be misunderstandings, but these will be resolved,” he stated.

Addressing Minister Patil’s assertion regarding a separate religion, Khandre added, “While my colleagues may hold differing views, our goal is to unify the community, not to fragment it. We should be tackling issues like drug abuse among the youth instead of creating divisions.”

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra reacted to these developments, stating, “The current challenge is to safeguard the Hindu faith. People must recognize attempts to create divisions. CM Siddaramaiah seems to be hastily trying to fragment Hinduism.”

When queried about his position on recognizing Lingayat as a distinct religion, CM Siddaramaiah responded in Koppal that survey enumerators record religions based on voluntary declarations by respondents. “The public’s stance is my stance,” he remarked.