No Electoral Dividends For Siddaramaiah? Lingayat Panel Unlikely To Submit Report Before Elections

The seven-member committee constituted by the Siddaramaiah government to look into the issue of separate religion status to Veerashivas/Lingayats has sought more time to submit its final report, The News Minute has reported.

The panel has asked the government to extend the timeline by six months, hitting the Congress government’s calculations to reap electoral benefits. The committee was initially given four weeks to submit its report, which it said was not sufficient.

"Four weeks is not enough, given the seriousness and importance of the subject we are dealing with here. This is an unprecedented development in India. There’s a huge responsibility on the committee and we want to do a proper, scientific job. So, the committee has decided to seek six months time from the government to submit our report," said former Karnataka High Court Judge Justice H N Nagmohan Das, chairman of the committee.

All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha and many Veerashaiva mutts have opposed the formation of the committee, threatening to launch a massive protest if it was not disbanded. The Bharatiya Janata Party, too, has opposed the idea.

The decision taken by the committee would be subject to the Karnataka High Court’s ruling in two petitions challenging the minority status demand.