Latest news with #AkhilaBharathaVeerashaivaMahasabha
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Veerashaiva-Lingayats to seek separate religion code in upcoming census
Veerashaiva-Lingayats, who are contesting the population data in the 2015 Socio-Economic and Educational Survey report of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, are set to seek a separate religion code for the community in the national census that will commence in 2026. The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha will petition the Centre for a religion code. The executive committee of the mahasabha will meet soon and draft the contents of the petition. Political backdrop The idea of a separate religion status for Lingayats had been a widely contested issue ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections in Karnataka. Though the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha has been seeking a separate religion code for the community for decades, the Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha, which spearheaded an agitation in 2017, sought a separate religion tag for 'Lingayats.' Then Ministers in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Cabinet, M.B. Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, were part of the campaign. While the demand for separate religion has come from both groups, the difference is over the nomenclature, a Veerashaiva mahasabha source explained, cautioning that the differences could crop up again with the Veerashaiva mahasabha set to seek a separate code for 'Veerashaiva-Lingayats.' In 2011, separate codes were assigned to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. There was a separate column for 'other religions and persuasions'. Ahead of the 2001 and the 2011 census too, the Veerashaiva mahasabha had petitioned the Centre seeking the religion code. But after being denied the same, the community members, through a 'jana jagruthi jatha' were asked to write 'Veerashaiva-Lingayat' in the column meant for 'others' instead of identifying as Hindus, Veerashaiva mahasabha sources said. Since 1940s 'Seeking a separate religion tag is not new. The Veerashaiva mahasabha in its 1940 conference at Kumbakonam had passed a resolution seeking separate religion tag for Veerashaiva-Lingayats and petitioned the then British government. Our record shows that even before the 1971 census, a similar demand had been made,' Veerashaiva mahasabha secretary H.M. Renuka Prasanna said. The 2015 survey conducted by the commission, headed by H. Kantharaj, has put the population of Veerashaiva-Lingayats in Karnataka to be about 66.35 lakh of the 5.98 crore surveyed, or about 11% of the State population. The Veerashaiva mahasabha has disputed the figure and claimed its number to be far higher around 18%-22% of the State population. The 2026 census will now be another measure for the population. The Veerashaiva-Lingayats are the dominant land-owning community in north and central Karnataka, and seen as politically powerful too, though it is part of backward classes Category 3B in the current OBC classification. Apart from a sizeable population of broader Veerashaiva-Lingayat community spread across Karnataka, the Veerashaiva mahasabha is counting on the community's considerable numbers in neighbouring Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
After backlash, Mahasabha rolls back jayanti order
BENGALURU: Following an uproar from Lingayats, the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha has withdrawn its controversial directive calling for Basava Jayanti and Renuka Jayanti to be celebrated jointly, breaking decades of tradition. After the order, signed by former DGP and current state president of the mahasabha Shankar Bidari, sparked outrage, Lingayats leaders and devotees approached minister Eshwar Khandre and mahasabha chairman MLA Dr Shamanur Shivashankarappa. The subsequent pressure finally forced the mahasabha's hand to back down. Mahasabha secretary Renuka Prasanna said, 'We have withdrawn the April 2 circular. We will go with the traditional celebration of Basava Jayanti. There will be no changes.' The April 2 directive had drawn criticism, with community leaders warning that combining the two celebrations would not only disrespect cultural traditions but also deeply fracture community unity. Faced with mounting backlash from Lingayat mathadheeshwaras, Basava organizations, Jagathika Lingayats and mahasabha district units, Shivashankarappa was left with little choice. Talks were held behind the scenes, culminating in the withdrawal of the order.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Lingayat and Vokkaliga organisations to hold joint protest
A meeting of office-bearers of Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha and Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Friday decided to hold a joint protest against the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (caste census) report submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. The two dominant communities are unhappy with the population data that has been collected as part of the commission's survey in 2015. The survey report was submitted by K. Jayaprakash Hegde-led commission in 2024, but only the population figure of castes, recommendation for reclassification of castes and procedures adopted in collection of data, among others, have been released to Ministers so far. The issue is likely to come up for discussion on May 2 when the State Cabinet will meet. The representatives of two community organisations met nearly after a decade. Mahasabha national president Shamanur Shivashankarappa was present. According to mahasabha secretary H.M. Renuka Prasanna, while a joint protest is being planned, discussion on legal challenges that they could mount against the survey was also part of the meeting. 'Joint strategies to be adopted to oppose the survey report were discussed along with ways elected representatives could be roped in. The date of protest is yet to be decided.'
