Bengaluru: Differences erupted within Congress on Monday a day after a collective of Lingayat pontiffs resolved to work towards getting a separate religion status for their ‘Lingayat’ faith.

The ‘separate religion’ movement for Lingayats is widely believed to have contributed to the Congress’ defeat in the 2018 Assembly polls. Then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recommended to the union government declaring the Lingayat faith as a separate religion.

On Sunday, the federation of Lingayat pontiffs said their religion, founded by 12th century social reformer Basavanna, must be recognised on the lines of Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. At this event, Siddaramaiah endorsed the view that Basavanna had indeed founded a new religion.

Like it did in the past, Sunday's resolution has irked the Al

See Full Page