JOIN USThe much- awaited debate over Veerashaiva-Lingayat controversy between MLC Basavaraj Horatti and Sri Dingaleshwar Swami, seer of Balehosur Mutt in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, has been called off due to denial of permission by the police.
The debate was scheduled to take place at Moorusaviramutt here on Saturday at 11 am.
Citing security and law and order problems, Police Commissioner M N Nagaraj denied the permission for the debate.
Making security arrangements for New Year celebrations, and Mahadayi agitation were also cited as reasons for denial of the permission.
Horatti had challenged the seer for a public debate over the issue. The seer had accepted the challenge, while Horatti had fixed the date and venue for the closed-door debate. Both of them had even announced their five- member teams for the debate.
Horatti has been championing the cause for separate religion tag for the Lingayat faith, while the seer has identified himself with seers who are of the opinion that both Lingayat and Veerashaiva are one and the same.