Bengaluru: Union skill development minister Anant Kumar Hegde sent a shock wave through the RSS circles by endorsing the demand for separate religion tag to the Veerashaiva- Lingayat community.
Speaking at a party activists convention at Yellapur of the North Karnataka, Hegde who is known for his controversial statements stated that if separate religion tag ensures several financial, educational and employment facilities for the Veerashaiva Lingayats he is ready to support the demand for the separate religious tag to the community.
“I will support the agitation carried out seeking separate religion tag to the community,” he announced.
According to the sources, Hegde who is trying to enter the state assembly through Yellapur constituency where lingayat votes are decisive used the meeting to win over their votes. It can be recalled that it is assumed that party high command may pick Hegde over B S Yeddyurappa for the CM post if party wins the crucial 2018 state assembly election.