Bengaluru – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has set up a seven member committee to look into the old demands of Lingayat community in the state to get minority status. Lingayat is one of the prominent communities in the state. Though it’s considered as a caste of Hindu religion, the community leaders of late are claiming that it’s not part of Hindu religion, instead it’s different sect altogether, and they are agitating to get status of separate religion.
This issue is likely to become big problem ahead of assembly elections, due in April-May 2018. Traditionally Lingayat is considered as BJP’s vote bank. Chief Minister’s decision to set up high level committee is seen as Congress’s attempt to dent into BJP’s stronghold.
Siddaramaiah’s supporters are arguing that under Karnataka State Minority Commission Law 1994, state government has every right to decide upon the minority status of a particular group. Former Justice of High Court H N Nagmohan is heading the committee, and its first meeting is likely to take place on 6th or 8th January.
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