The demand for granting Lingayats a separate religion status has resurfaced in Karnataka, reigniting political tensions. This renewed push coincides with the ongoing Socioeconomic and Educational Survey conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha has urged followers of Basavanna, the founder of Lingayatism, to mark their religion as “others” in the survey.
At the Basava Culture Campaign-2025 event in Bengaluru, community leaders and seers reiterated their call for recognition as a distinct religion. They emphasized that Lingayatism, founded in the 12th century by social reformer Basavanna, embodies values of equality, brotherhood, and human dignity. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, present at the event, acknowledged Basavanna’s efforts to create a society devoid of caste and class distinctions.
However, the BJP has strongly opposed this demand. State President B.Y. Vijayendra, a Lingayat himself, accused Siddaramaiah of attempting to divide the Hindu community. Vijayendra stated that such moves were part of a broader strategy to fragment Hindu unity, a sentiment echoed by other BJP leaders. Siddaramaiah, on his part, denied any personal stance on the issue, attributing the demand to certain seers and community leaders.
The controversy over Lingayat identity is not new. In 2018, the Congress government’s recommendation to grant religious minority status to Lingayats led to significant political fallout, with the BJP accusing the move of being politically motivated. The current debate has once again brought the issue to the forefront, with implications for the state’s political landscape.