Bengaluru: The Global Lingayat Mahasabha has been established as an alternative to the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha with Basavaraja Horatti as its national president and State Minister M B Patil as its working president.
The Lingayat Society’s seer and leaders consented to the formation of World Lingayat Council during the meeting held at Jnanajyoti auditorium. The meeting discussed about all the pros and cons of the council. Lingayat Swamijis arrived from different places of the state and discussed on the modalities related to the registration and functioning of the newly formed Mahasabha in the presence of leaders including ministers M B Patil, Vinay Kulkarni, MLC Basavaraj Horatti and S M Jamadar.
Speaking at the meeting, S M Jamadar said there are no monasteries in founder Basavanna’s religion and Jangama is a principle. “We will register the World Lingayat Council within a week as the draft related to the registration is ready following which the membership drive will be begin”, he added.
“In this case, there are some confusions regarding the name. Some have expressed concern that the name of the World Lingayat council is already in use. No objections have been raised with regard to anything except the name”, he added.
When some members aired their views opposing the name Parishad (Council) S M Jamadar proposed the name as “Global Lingayat Mahasabha”, which was accepted by all present.
Later, an official announcement on the formation of Global Lingayat Mahasabha was made with a resolution to continue the struggle for a separate religion status breaking links with the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha.
Later, minister M B Patil announced the names of new office-bearers at the meeting. “We are not Hindus. We are Lingayats and are not against Hindus”, said M B Patil justifying the formation of the Global Lingayat Mahasabha, as the last weapon left to use in the battle for victory.
List of office-bearers:
Prakash Hukkeri, Malakareddy, Arvind Jatti, Ashok Kheni, Shankar Bidari, B R Patil, Ashok Pattana, M P Nadagowda and Basavaraj Rayareddy will function as senior vice presidents. S M Jamadar will be the general secretary and the executive committee will have litterateur Champa, MInister Vinay Kulkarni, G R Chennabasappa as members. State Minister Sharan Prakash Patil has been appointed as the state president.
