Lingayats in Karnataka demand independent religion status
Over 50,000 Lingayats from across Karnataka gathered in Bidar on Wednesday demanding they be granted a separate 'religious minority' status. Several Lingayat leaders said that a memorandum has been submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard. "Lingayats are not Hindus or sub sects of the Hindus. We are an independent religion," a Lingayat leader said. 