Bengaluru, Oct 21: Slamming the Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar for his statement that the move by the previous government on the ‘religious minority’ status for Lingayat faith was “a big blunder,” the Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha has pledged to continue its fight for the cause.
Mahasabha leader S M Jaamdar said the fight to get the Lingayat faith recognised as a religion would continue, notwithstanding the controversy surrounding Shivakumar’s statement. "I don't know why the minister made that statement. He attended several meetings, but never opposed it then," Jaamdar said.
Panchamasali Peetha seer Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami deplored Shivakumar’s statement. “It’s not clear what he really meant and it’s possible that someone may have coaxed him into saying so, which is wrong,” the seer said.
On the other hand, Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa has welcomed Water Shivakumar's apology over the controversy related to separate religion tag for Lingayat faith.
Speaking to media persons in Shivamogga on Saturday Yeddyurappa said it was good that Congress leader realised the "mistake" at least now."The minister has apologised on behalf of the previous government. Let us not discuss the issue further. The Congress leaders should not repeat such mistake in future," he said.
He alleged that leaders of Congress and JD(S) were likely to misuse the government machinery to win the byelections.
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