Fri Sep 19 15:39:44 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A “Veerashaiva Lingayat Ekata Samavesha” (unity convention) took place in Hubballi, India, bringing together seers from both the ‘Guru’ and ‘Virakta’ traditions of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community for the first time in recent years. The goal was to project unity and affirm that “Veerashaiva” and “Lingayat” are one. However, the convention was unable to reach a consensus on how members of the community should identify themselves in the upcoming Socio Economic and Educational Survey, particularly in the “religion” column. While some leaders suggested “Veerashaiva Lingayat,” others expressed concerns about its legal standing and potential conflict with identifying as Hindu. The event featured prominent community leaders from both the Congress and BJP parties, but differing opinions prevented the passage of a final resolution on the matter, with organizers promising a decision soon.
**News Article:**
**Veerashaiva-Lingayat Seers Unite, But Stall on Census Identity at Hubballi Convention**
**HUBBALLI, India – September 19, 2025** – In a historic gathering, seers from both the ‘Guru’ and ‘Virakta’ traditions of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community converged in Hubballi Friday for the ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat Ekata Samavesha,’ a unity convention aimed at reinforcing the shared identity between Veerashaiva and Lingayat groups. Hundreds of seers marched through Hubballi in a show of solidarity, marking the first time in recent years that leaders from both traditions have shared a public platform.
While the event successfully demonstrated a unified front, attendees failed to come to consensus on how community members should identify themselves in the upcoming Socio Economic and Educational Survey, creating a potential hurdle for the community.
The core point of contention revolved around the “religion” column of the survey. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre (Congress), National VP of Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha, advocated for community members to write “Veerashaiva Lingayat” in the “Others” column, with specific caste/sub-caste details to be mentioned within the caste column. This stance was supported by influential figures like Sri Siddalinga Swami of Siddaganga Mutt and Sri Annadaneshwar Swami of Mundaragi Mutt.
However, former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai (both BJP), raised concerns regarding the legal standing of identifying as “Veerashaiva Lingayat” as a separate religion, noting that it has not been officially recognized as such by the government. Shettar asked the Mahasabha to clarify whether citizens can identify as Hindu in the religion column, while Bommai agreed that the Mahasabha’s decision should be per law.
Sri Veerasomeshwara Shivachara Swami of Rambhapuri Peetha voiced similar reservations, suggesting that “Veerashaiva Lingayat” should be mentioned in the caste column instead, and advised the Mahasabha to consult legal experts.
Despite passionate appeals for unity from community leaders across party lines, including Khandre, Shettar, and Bommai, the convention concluded without a formal resolution on the survey identification issue. Fakira Dingaleshwar Swami, the event’s coordinator, announced that a decision would be made shortly. The lack of clarity could potentially impact the community’s representation and access to government programs tied to religious or caste classifications.
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