Karnataka: Ministers clash over Lingayat issue

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s remarks on Basavanna conceiving Lingayat as a separate religion have revived a long-standing controversy. This has led to a verbal spat between ministers MB Patil and Eshwar Khandre, both Lingayats, with Patil asserting Lingayats are outside Hinduism’s caste system, while Khandre emphasizes unity between Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities.