Bengaluru, Oct. 6 -- Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre today firmly rejected the demand for a separate religious status for Lingayats, stating that "no force can separate Veerashaiva-Lingayats" in the state.
He recalled the late seer Shivakumara Swamy's statement that both communities are one and emphasised that a separate religious tag for Lingayats alone is unnecessary.
Responding to Minister MB Patil's call for a distinct religious identity, Khandre alleged that "some vested interests are spreading misinformation about the community with political malice."He stressed that Karnataka's development would be better served if Veerashaiva-Lingayats remained united and noted that the All India Veerashaiva-L...