Dharwad: "Narendra Modi led central government has returned the proposal forwarded by the previous Congress-led state government to the centre with an eye on grabbing power, recommending to grant separate religious status for Lingayat. But the central government has since returned the proposal to the state," said former chief minister and BJP leader, Jagadish Shettar.

Shettar felt that the central government is not at fault in returning the proposal made by the Congress government to give separate religious statuses to Veerashaiva and Lingayat sects as there was vested interest of Congress leaders in the idea behind this agitation and making recommendation for separate religion status.

Shettar explained that only a few leaders took lead roles in the agitation seeking separate religion status for Lingayat, and most of the Lingayat legislators and leaders had stayed away from the agitation. National president of Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha, former minister and MLA, Dr Shyamanur Shivashankarappa expressed the view that the central government did the right thing by sending back the Lingayat proposal to the state. He said that in his opinion, it would be in the interests of everyone if people of both Lingayat and Veerashaiva faiths together approach the central government for recognition.