Siddaramaiah denies repenting attempt to give Veerashaiva-Lingayat separate religious status
Bengaluru, Aug 20: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday denied repenting a move related to giving separate religious status to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community during his tenure. The denial comes a day after a seer claimed the Congress leader was feeling guilty over the issue.
No, I did not say like that (repenting). I just explained what had happened. I told him (seer) what we had done while planning to give the Veerashaiva Lingayat that status..., Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru.
He said he did not bother much about religion. However, it was Davangere South MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, a veteran Congress leader, who submitted to him (Siddaramaiah) a memorandum seeking creating Veerashaiva-Lingayat religion, he added.
Ahead of the 2018 Assembly election, the former Chief Minister said he drew flak when the State government tried to give the Veerashaiva-Lingayat' sect a separate religious status by breaking it away from Hindu religion.
In the election, the Congress lost power and it was a hung Assembly as the party got a fractured mandate.
On Friday, Prasanna Veerasomeshwara Shivacharya Swami of Balehonnur-based Rambhapuri Matha in Chikkamagaluru said Siddaramaiah repented for his move.
"Earlier, when he (Siddaramaiah) was the Chief Minister of the State, there were allegations that he was supporting an attempt to divide Veerashaiva-Lingayat sect. Today, he spoke his mind," the seer said adding: "He told me: I did not make any such attempt, but some people tried to mislead me. I repent for it."
Former minister M B Patil, who was also at the centre of the controversial move, said no one tried to divide the religion. That time, there were lots of misgivings maybe because no proper discussion took place, he conceded.
"After the election, we all had thought of sitting together and decide the next course of action," he added.
Meanwhile, Congress State president D K Shivakumar said there was no harm in confessing to a mistake.
If a man commits a mistake, there is nothing wrong in repenting it. No one is God. There were occasions when God, too, accepts a mistake, Shivakumar said.
He added that he was present in the Cabinet meeting when the decision to form a separate Veerashaiva-Lingayat sect had been taken and had expressed his views on it.
According to sources close to Shivakumar, he had opposed the move and reminded Siddaramaiah about the fallout.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he is not aware of repentance of Siddaramaiah.
The Chief Minister declined to comment on it, but the people know what had happened.
"It was a talk between Siddaramaiah and Prasanna Veera Someshwara Swami of Rambhapuri Mutt. The seer has said Siddaramaiah was repentant. Siddaramaiah has commented on it. I am not aware of the statements of the two, so I don't want to say anything. But the truth of what happened in that situation is known to all," Bommai said.
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Vijay secures majority support, set to stake claim to form Tamil Nadu govt
Chennai: After four days of political uncertainty and intense negotiations in Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay is learnt to have secured the numbers required to form the government, sources said.
Supporters gathered outside Vijay’s residence in Chennai on Friday evening, raising slogans in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam soon after reports emerged that the party had managed to secure majority support.
Sources said Vijay is expected to meet Tamil Nadu Governor R. V. Arlekar on Friday evening to stake claim to form the government. The meeting is likely to take place around 6 pm.
In its electoral debut in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, TVK won 108 out of the 234 seats, dealing a major blow to the 62-year political dominance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
However, Governor Arlekar had reportedly made it clear that the party would not be invited to form the government without proving a clear majority. Even after two rounds of discussions on Wednesday and Thursday, the Governor is learnt to have maintained his stand that letters of support from at least 118 MLAs must be submitted in the 234-member Assembly.
Apart from Vijay, TVK had the backing of 107 MLAs. Vijay had contested from Tiruchy (East) and Perambur constituencies and won both seats, meaning he would have to resign from one seat before taking oath. This increased the need for additional support.
Amid the political developments, five MLAs from the Congress party, which reportedly moved away from the DMK-led alliance, extended support to Vijay. Vijay also held discussions with leaders of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India.
The VCK, CPI(M) and CPI had so far been allies of the DMK. At the same time, political discussions intensified in the state over speculation that the DMK could even explore a post-poll understanding with its long-time rival AIADMK to prevent an alternative government from taking shape.
Reports had been circulating since Friday afternoon that the VCK and Left parties were likely to support Vijay. Sources later said that the VCK, CPI(M) and CPI agreed to extend the support of two MLAs each, helping TVK cross the required majority mark.
All eyes are now on the Governor’s next move and the official announcement regarding the formation of the new government in Tamil Nadu.
