Latest news with #Veerashaiva-Lingayat
Hans India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Yatnal claims secret power-sharing deal between Siddaramaiah and DKS
Davangere: Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has stirred political waters in Karnataka by alleging that a secret pact exists between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, aimed at transferring power midway through the current government's term. Speaking to reporters at the JM Institute guesthouse in Davangere on Saturday, Yatnal claimed that CM Siddaramaiah has agreed to step down before completing his full tenure, making way for Shivakumar to take over as Chief Minister. As per the alleged understanding, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra would be made Deputy Chief Minister under the new arrangement, Yatnal asserted. 'There is no real intention within the Congress to allow DK Shivakumar to become Chief Minister. Yet an agreement exists with him to form the next government,' Yatnal said. 'I will pursue a new political path if required, but I will not return to the Congress,' he added. 'No capable leadership in BJP' In a scathing critique of his own party's state leadership, Yatnal said, 'The BJP lacks competent leadership in Karnataka. Even in events attended by Vijayendra, barely a thousand people show up. This shows the weakness of the current leadership. A new force is likely to emerge soon within the party,' he predicted. He also pointed to internal fractures in the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community's political consolidation and accused BJP MP B.Y. Raghavendra and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa of receiving tacit support from senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Allegations of 'CD politics' Yatnal alleged that both Vijayendra and Shivakumar had been involved in controversies surrounding objectionable video clips. 'Vijayendra too was once part of a CD scandal, but the case was closed after the videos were deleted. DK Shivakumar is known to play similar games,' he claimed without offering evidence. 'Congress only offers guarantees, not governance' He dismissed the Congress's performance in office, accusing the party of offering 'guarantees' without delivering meaningful governance. 'The only achievement Congress leaders can claim is the much-hyped 'five guarantees'. Now they are planning a 'Sadhana Samavesha' (progress rally) in Hospet, as if they have transformed the state,' he said. Yatnal also questioned Congress's role in the country's freedom movement, stating, 'India did not gain independence because of Congress. If anyone contributed to our freedom, it was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.' Criticism of ministers and Rahul Gandhi Taking aim at state ministers Priyank Kharge and Santosh Lad, Yatnal alleged their public statements were damaging to national unity. 'Their remarks seem more intended to please Pakistan sympathisers than to uphold Indian values. If they had any self-respect, they would remain silent,' he said. Yatnal also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, branding him 'Pakistan's hero,' and criticised CM Siddaramaiah for what he called a 'soft stance' on national security issues. 'When it comes to matters of national interest, politics should take a back seat,' he added.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Lingayat, Vokkaliga functionaries push to scrap state caste census, back Centre's count
Bengaluru: With the Centre announcing a national caste census , Karnataka's politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities are mounting pressure on the Siddaramaiah govt to scrap the contentious state caste census . They are also preparing cadres to ensure better enumeration in the central exercise. The communities have expressed dissatisfaction with the socio-economic and educational survey — commonly called the caste census — commissioned by the Siddaramaiah govt in 2015. They allege that their populations have been significantly undercounted, which could directly affect their share of reservation. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Six Lingayat ministers — Eshwar Khandre, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, SS Mallikarjun, Sharan Prakash Patil, Shivanand Patil, and Sharanabasappa Darshanpur — met last week to prepare for Friday's (May 9) cabinet meeting, where they plan to raise concerns about the census findings . The caste census report remains with the state govt. A special cabinet meeting called on April 17 ended without a decision. A second meeting was postponed twice, with the latest now set for Friday. With the Centre's census now in play, officials say the upcoming session would be a regular cabinet meeting, although the caste census will be on the agenda. "The caste census report would also be discussed along with the other issues on the agenda," said HK Patil, law and parliamentary affairs minister. "While there is no dispute about the socio-economic-educational aspect of the report, some communities have expressed concerns about the size of their population. These aspects would be discussed with the intention of ensuring justice for all communities." Tensions have escalated after senior Lingayat representative and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, also Davanagere South MLA, criticised his own party's govt. "Lingayats are hoping to get justice from the central census as the state census had projected their population around 65 lakh when in reality it's more than 2 crore," he said. However, Siddaramaiah has held firm, stating he will use the state caste census findings to frame the next state budget. Forest minister Khandre said: "We have taken note of all these developments that took place after the Centre announced the national caste census. We Lingayat ministers met last week and discussed the issue. We are committed to safeguarding the interest of our community. We will air our views in the cabinet meeting." Lingayat functionaries also plan to urge their community to list themselves as 'Veerashaiva-Lingayat' in the central census, though a section prefers dropping the 'Veerashaiva' prefix. Vokkaliga representatives are following suit. The Vokkaligara Sangha has engaged experts to guide its community through the central census process. "We want the state caste census scrapped... We will plan an awareness programme on the central census," said B Kenchappa Gowda, president, Vokkaligara Sangha.
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
01-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
With national caste census announced, CM may change tactics on Karnataka report
BENGALURU: The Union Government's announcement on Wednesday that The two dominant communities have termed the census 'unscientific' and demanded a fresh survey to determine populations of communities. They have argued that the state's caste census is decade old and obsolete. For the national caste census, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) is likely to take up the task as caste is included in the national census, experts said. It is to be seen whether NCBC commissions the census to the state backward classes commission, they added. In the changed scenario, the Siddaramaiah cabinet may keep aside caste-wise population figures and debate on the data on the status of communities. A special cabinet meeting was scheduled for May 2 to discuss the caste census, but the meeting has been postponed indefinitely. The April 17 special cabinet meeting, called specifically to discuss caste census, remained inconclusive as ministers refused to accept the report. Siddaramaiah then asked them to go through specific data on the status of communities, sources said. Out of 41 volumes, data nine throws light on the status of communities including the political aspect of communities. Siddaramaiah asked officials to furnish exhaustive data on it to ministers. 'More than the population of communities which became a contentious issue, the debate on the status of communities is more important,' a Siddaramaiah sympathiser said. This will help the CM defend the commission's recommendation to increase the quota for Veerashaiva Lingayats from 4 to 8% under 3B category and 3 to 7% for Vokkaligas under 3A. State's backward classes commissions in the past had recommended taking away quota from the socially and educationally forward communities in the state. The Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution allows states to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes Political scientist Prof Sandeep Shastri recalled that the Havanuru commission had recommended taking away the reservation for Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, whereas the Venkatswamy commission had recommended taking away the Veerashaiva-Lingayat quota. After 1956, these two communities constituted a majority of MLAs in all assemblies, he pointed out. 'Caste is an important political identity in modern India and it may not have anything to do with the traditional ritual and hierarchy it represents. Though of course, there are forms of injustice still continued, but today in politics caste is an important identity which everyone uses for their advantage and for their group consolidations, as a result caste has become an identity and it's important for caste leaders to emphasise on how large and significant their caste group is. Caste group leaders would like to emphasise the strength and importance of their group and their strategic relevance,' he analysed.
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Veerashaiva Lingayats protest caste census, demand its withdrawal
Raichur: A massive protest march, drawing thousands from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, wound its way from Harshita Garden to the Deputy Commission-er's office in Raichur on Monday, causing temporary traffic disruptions. The demonstrators, united in their opposition to the state's caste census report, submitted a memorandum to district authorities, demanding its immediate withdrawal and a new, transparent census to reflect accurate demographic data. Community leaders, including the city's BJP MLA Dr. Shivaraj Patil, con-demned the report as a deliberate attempt to fracture the Veerashaiva-Lingayat unity, warning of a revolution if the government persists with its implementa-tion. Congress MLC Basanagouda Badarli echoed the sentiment, emphasising society's primacy over individual categorisations and hinting at resignations if the issue remains unresolved, noting prior communications with the govern-ment. The rally, held at Harshita Garden under the guidance of community leaders and representatives, spotlighted grievances over the census's alleged unscien-tific and unconstitutional methodology. Leaders criticised the report for drasti-cally underrepresenting the community's population, branding it a divisive tactic that threatens social cohesion and misguides policy-making. This demonstration underscores rising tensions over the caste census, with the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community vowing to escalate their campaign unless the state reconsiders its stance. The protest's scale and intensity signal a broader call for fairness and accuracy in demographic assessments, resonating across Raichur and beyond.
