Lingayats a religious minority, says K’taka; Centre will decide

BENGALURU: Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah-led Congress government on Monday accepted an expert committee’s recommendation, and accorded the status of a religion (a minority one) to the Lingayat sect, until now considered a part of Hinduism.

The move, which analysts see as an astute political move and opponents as an opportunistic one with an eye on the forthcoming state elections in Karnataka, acknowledges an almost fourdecade long demand by the Lingayats.

Lingayats are followers of 12th-century Brahmin saint Basavanna who rebelled against Brahminism and its ritualistic The community: Lingayats and Veerashaivas constitute the largest community in Karnataka, making up 17% of the population. It was founded by Basavanna, a 12th-century Brahmin who revolted against casteism

Key to elections: The community’s votes could impact the outcome of the assembly elections in the state. The BJP is widely seen to have influence in the community, which the ruling Congress is seeking to woo

practices. He attracted followers from both upper and lower castes.

After his death, his uppercaste followers, the Veerashaivas adopted many of the very customs and practices Basavanna preached against, while

the others, the Lingayats, didn’t. The hyphenated caste-grouping, Veerashaiva-lingayat, was considered part of Hinduism. The Veerashaiva-lingayat community accounts for around 16% of Karnataka’s population.