Karnataka Poll Express: The Lingayat Debate

In 2017, the religious leaders of the Lingayat community submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The memorandum sought the state’s recommendation to the central government to recognise Lingayata ‘dharma’ as a separate faith, and not as a cluster of religions that come under Hindu dharma. This demand for a separate ‘dharma’ tag has been making rounds since at least the last seven decades or more. Many Chief Ministers including BJP’s B S Yeddyurappa have supported it during their tenure and had even recommended it to their respective central governments in the past. Siddaramaiah government supported this claim and has recommended for the separate faith/religion tag to the central government. The central government is yet to categorically state its decision on this.

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