Belagavi (DHNS): The Lingayats took out a mammoth rally in support of their prolonged demand for a separate Lingayat religion, here on Tuesday.

The second mega rally, after the one at Bidar, organised by the community at Lingaraj College grounds here witnessed massive gathering of around one lakh people that stressed for classification of the Lingayat as a separate religion. The meet claimed the Lingayat religion had come into existence after the 12th century revolution that had opposed Vedic religion that promoted caste and gender discrimination.

Siddalinga Swami of Tontadarya Mutt, Gadag, Muruga Sharanaru of Bruhan Mutt, Chitradurga, Mate Mahadevi of Basava Dharama Peeta and over 50 other seers representing different mutts, political leaders of community from the Congress and the JD(S) participated. However, Lingayat leaders from the BJP abstained from the rally.

Senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti said the government should accord religion status to Lingayat or face the consequences and anger of the community. Lingayats and Veerashaivas are totally different. Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha should realise that Lingayat was a complete religion in view of its unique philosophy.

Horatti criticised the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his statement that Lingayats should remain in Hinduism. The struggle will go on until Lingayat was recognised as an independent religion, he added.

Retired IAS officer Shivanand Jamdar said it was not an effort to establish a new religion but a struggle seeking recognition for an already existing one. "When we are not Hindus, the question of we deserting Hinduisim would thus not arise,” he added.

Minister for Mines and Geology Vinay Kulkarni said it was an apolitical movement and urged the community's political leaders to come out of the clutches of the vested interest to uphold the interest of the community. A mega rally of 25 lakh people would be organised in Benglauru in support of the demand, he stated.

Muruga Sharanaru of Chitradurga stressed the need for convincing other seers who had remained away from the movement. Mate Mahadevi asked the community leaders in the BJP to introspect whether their priority was politics or religion.