At a time when the RSS is looking to unite the different castes of the nation under the umbrella of Hindutva, Congressman and Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has thrown a spanner in their works.
There is a caste survey going on in Karnataka and the Lingayat community to which Siddaramaiah belongs is confused because they don’t know whether they should identify themselves as Hindu or non-Hindu.
Against this backdrop, Siddaramaiah who participated in his community’s event on Saturday, said, “Lingayat is a separate religion founded by Basava in opposition to the caste system.”
He further added, “According to the varna system, I am a shudra. But that does not mean I can be denied opportunity for education and equality. Caste does not make anyone big or famous……knowledge is nobody’s property.”
Meanwhile, the BJP has been exhorting the Lingayat community to identify themselves as a caste and strengthen the Hindu religion in the State.
The Lingayat community is approximately around 18 percent of the population in Karnataka and well-entrenched politically.
If these members identify themselves as non-Hindus or in other words secede from Hinduism, one can understand the consternation that would arise in the RSS rank and file.
