It is not a step to divide the community, but a measure to unite the already sub divided sub caste followers in Lingayats,' he said. 'Minority status to this religion will definitely deliver some benefits to the youth of this community - individually and collectively.

The seer said that the government of Karnataka has 'rightly' recommended to the Centre in this regard. 'At the outset it appears that there is a controversy between Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat followers,' but it is a 'temporary outbreak of emotions' of small groups in the followers of both faiths and 'it will not last long,' it said. The letter pointed out that a strong movement is going on in Karnataka by Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, pressing for minority status to the community. On a mission to connect with the pontiffs of the community, Shah had met several Lingayat/Veerashaiva seers during his two-day visit to Karnataka, in an apparent move towards keeping the BJP’s traditional Lingayat voter base intact, ahead of the May 12 Assembly polls. prominent Lingayat seer has commended the Siddaramaiah government’s decision to recommend grant of religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, in an embarrassment to BJP president Amit Shah, who had termed it as an attempt to ‘divide’ the Hindu community.

Matters were further complicated by the fact that the. The swamiji, while handing over the letter, had reportedly requested Mr Shah to 'do the needful' to get the religion tag for Lingayats from the Centre. Bengaluru: A letter by Sri Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji of Muruga Mutt of Chitradurga has put BJP national president Amit Shah in a bind.

Shiva at murugan swami ji