Various Lingayat organisations will organise a rally in Bengaluru on February 28, seeking the status of an independent religion for the Lingayat faith, distinct from
Hinduism. Sri Channabasavananda swami, a leader of the Rashtriya Basava Dal and Basava Mantapa, told presspersons that the Chief Minister Siddramaiah had not acted upon their request for granting it independent status even after two years of receiving a memorandum from Lingayat organisations. Mate Mahadevi, Aravind Jatti and other leaders will participate in the rally, he said.
Caste certificates
He urged the State government to mention only the term Lingayat in caste certificates issued to members of the community. The certificates issued by the government now, carry the words Veerashaiva Lingayat, which is wrong, the swami said.
