The Veerashiva-Lingayat controversy on the eve of polls appears to be paying off Siddaramaiah handsomely considering the feedback evinced in a handful of districts which will be going to polls on 12 May. At the same time the state government’s move to recommend to the centre for a separate minority religion status to Lingayats has been successful in dividing the Veerashiva-Lingayat community in a big way like never before.
There have been conflicting views about whether such proposal from the state will help the ruling Congress party in returning to power or damage the prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party in doing so. Any way as of now the mood of the electorate in the state appears to be tilting towards a hung Assembly which’s being eagerly awaited by the Janata Dal Secular party dreaming of becoming the game changer once again.
Veerashivas are found to be in a big chunk in the old Mysuru regions are up in arms against the state government’s move whereas the Lingayats who outnumber the former in North Karnataka comprising Mumbai Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka areas are said to be favoring the Congress.
The community also looks to be divided following the ‘decisive politics’ strategy well orchestrated by the Congress party just before the announcement of general elections to the state Assembly.
The parent body of the Veerashiva Lingayats is named as Akhila Bharat Veerashiva Mahasabe while those agitating for a separate minority religion tag have formed a different organization stripping ties with the Mahasabe.
By and large both the rival groups keep claiming that Veerashivas and Lingayats are nothing but two faces of the same coin. But the ground reality is paradoxical in comparison with the tall claims being made.
Dr Murugha Sharanaru,pontiff of the Murugharajendra Mutt headquartered at Chitradurga having branches across the state asserts: Veerashiva swamijis representing the Pancha Peetas are averse to the formation of Lingayat religion as they are scared that they’ll lose all the benefits as a result thereupon. One’s not supposed to follow the Vedic rituals like puja,homa nor visit temples in search of philosophical solace. Even they will have to give up the inhuman practice of devotees bowing before them nor can visit the disciples’ houses under the pretext of paadpuja forget going in palanquin processions.
However Onkareshwar swamiji, pontiff of Avargol Mutt branch of Balehonnuru Rambapuri peetha at Davanagere contradicts these claims: The proposal for a separate minority religion status is nothing else but a ploy to divide the religion for ulterior purposes. Some pontiffs in order to reap monetary and similar such benefits in kind have grouped themselves under the guise of Basava Dharma. Are they not adhering to the same rituals of allowing the disciples to fall at their feet? Do they not visit the devotees under the pretext of paadpuja and claim that they keep doing so on the requests of the disciples?
He also admits that there could be a polarization of 10 percent of votes towards the ruling party and this proportion keeps changing from 2/3 percent to 50-60 percent depending to whom you keep talking to while some others straight away dismiss any such impact.
But one thing seems to be clear. The Veerashivas who claim to be having the roots of origin since more than 5,000 years are jittery as they see the danger of getting lost in the present tug of war which will eventually end up their hegemony over the community.
According to them: Veerashivas have a distinct identity and Renukacharya is the founder of the Veerashiva religion. Siddantha Shikamani is the religious book which happens to be in Sanskrit. They are not opposed to Lord Basaveshwara nor his preaching’s and it’s only a canard that they are against a separate minority religion status.
This controversy may not fetch the Congress party any significant gains claims Basavaraj, journalist based in Davanagere. At the most there could be a swing of around two percent of votes as it’s the individual candidates who matter more here rather than the political parties.
MT Subashchandra, President, Davanagere District Congress Campaign Committee acknowledges that the Veerashiva-Lingayat agitation has tilted the balance for better. In fact there’s no difference of any sort among the ordinary people but the pontiffs look to be divided for their own reasons.
As per the census report during the regime of Mysuru dynasty Veerashiva also happens to be one among the 99 sub sects of Lingayat religion. People residing in the urban areas call themselves as Veerashivas while those in the rural region only know that they are Lingayats. But the Congress may gain as a result of the Siddaramaiah government’s wise move feels MT Subashchandra.
Dr Murugha Sharanaru admits the fallout due to such situation: The devotees have been advised to cooperate (Sahakarakke Sahakara) with the party which has been responsible for recommending the separate minority religious tag. The reason for such a stance according to those in the forefront of the movement is otherwise it would be like letting down the party which helped in achieving the set goal.
Athani Veeranna, Chartered Accountant and advisor to Shyamanuru Shivashankarappa, President of All India Veerashiva Mahasabe has a counter argument to put forth: Government’s univocal decision of announcing a separate religion tag is condemnable. There’s an attempt during the second term of UPA regime in 2013 for separate minority religion tag to Veerashiva-Lingayats but the effort did not yield results as it’s the fag end of the term and by the time a decision could be made polls were announced.
In fact Sushilkumar Shinde, the then Home Minister had even agreed for considering the memorandum suitably. For record sake the request is kept under obeisance and not rejected as is trying to be made in some quarters says Athani Veeranna.
He also quickly adds: There are more than around 1,000 Veerashiva-Lingayat mutts spread all over the state apart from some being in several other states. So expecting unanimity over the issue would be a difficult proposition. It looks the interests of Veerashiva-Lingayats will be further bulldozed.
But the effect of this movement is bound to have an effect on the polls and whatever could be the outcome the Congress party is awaiting to be blamed. Whether its victory or defeat for the party the reasons will be the move of the party in recommending separate religious status, informs the CA.
Amith Shah, national BJP president may be out rightly rejecting the recommendation for separate minority religion status for political purposes as it’s been done so from a Congress government. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is more convinced by the preaching’s of Lord Basavanna and there’s no doubt that he’ll definitely accord the minority religion tag says Mahantesh Agadi, bicycles businessman.
He adds further: Amith Shah has declared in his affidavit submitted to the Rajya Sabha that he belongs to the Jain religion but here in Karnataka he claims to be a Vaishnavite Hindu. We’ll definitely support Modi for 2019 but this time it’ll be for Siddaramaiah.
Prof Shivarudra Kallolkar of History Department at Karnatak University Dharwad has an interesting point to make: Thanks to the Veerashiva-Lingayat controversy it may not be a big surprise if 30 percent of people belonging to these communities may cast their votes in favor of Congress. Even assuming that the voting pattern may not be in this proportion however it cannot be ruled out that the Congress will be the beneficiary by winning in 5-6 seats.
At the same time he is candid enough to admit: The maximum number of schemes has been given by the Siddaramaiah government. Let there be no doubt on that. But the Congress party may eventually end up losing in 20 seats due to the arrogant attitude of the chief minister!
Prof Ashok Shettar of the same department asserts: This movement will not boomerang the Congress party as projected in a few pre poll survey reports. On the other hand it’s the Congress party which’s set to gain and the drift in such polarization may be to the extent of 50-60 percent.
There’s a divide in the community for good of the society as it’s in tune with what Basavanna stood for a casteless and classless system. In that way Basava Dharma is unique in its distinct identity says Prof Shivananda Shettar, Head of Gandhian Studies Department, Karnatak University at Dharwad.
However he feels: The move to accord separate minority status is a welcome step though it might have political considerations. But the so far held notion that BS Yeddyurappa is the undisputed mass leader of Lingayats may not work this time.
Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti
