Lingayat Seers Launch Door-to-Door Campaign on Karnataka OBC Survey

Quick Summary

• Seers from 186 Veerashaiva-Lingayat mutts in Karnataka will launch a door-to-door awareness campaign encouraging followers to identify as ‘others’ in the religion category during the socio-educational survey conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes starting September 22.
• The initiative is guided by Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which advocates that Veerashaiva-Lingayats should enumerate themselves explicitly under this category.
• During their meeting,discussions were held about organizing a gathering called “Veerashaiava-Lingayata Ekata Samavesha” on September 19 in hubballi,where political leaders from all parties will be invited to participate.
• The decision was supported by Mahasabha Secretary H.M. Renuka Prasanna and various seers ahead of the upcoming survey.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The call for Veerashaiva-Lingayats to categorize themselves as ‘others’ rather than affiliating with broader religious labels highlights ongoing debates surrounding caste identity and community portrayal within Karnataka’s socio-political landscape. Such initiatives aim to assert distinct demographic visibility during government-conducted surveys, perhaps influencing policy formulations related to reservations and resource allocation. While inviting leaders from all political parties promotes inclusivity and dialog across ideological lines, it also illustrates how caste-group dynamics continue to intertwine with electoral politics in India’s diverse social framework.

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