Kaneri Swami's Derogatory Remarks on Lingayats Trigger Statewide Protests in Karnataka

Outrage has swept across Karnataka for over a week following alleged derogatory comments by Adrushya Kadhasiddheshwar Swami, the head of Kaneri mutt in Kolhapur, targeting prominent Lingayat pontiffs and the Basava cultural campaign. The controversy ignited on October 9, 2025, during the swami's speech in Biluru village, Sangli district, where he reportedly dismissed the Lingayat Mathadhishara Okkuta—a coalition of more than 300 Lingayat seers pushing for Lingayatism's recognition as a distinct religion—as a "nataka thanda drama troupe." His address, filled with expletives and mockery of Lingayat traditions, quickly went viral on social media, fueling widespread anger among community members.

Protests have erupted in numerous taluks and towns, including Vijayapura, Belagavi, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Bagalkot, and Hungund. Organized by groups like the Jagatik Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM), Basava Samiti, and other Basava-aligned organizations, demonstrators have burned effigies of the swami and submitted memoranda to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, demanding accountability. In Vijayapura, hundreds rallied at the deputy commissioner's office on October 14, calling for stringent action. Nagratna Bhavikatti, president of JLM's women's wing, condemned the remarks as a "disgrace to the monastic order" that hurt millions, vowing escalated protests statewide unless a public apology is issued.

The swami's defense—that his words were in his native "aaadu bhashe" from North Karnataka—failed to placate the community. Lingayat leaders, including Minister M.B. Patil, have lambasted the pontiff, labeling the statements "unconstitutional and an insult to Basavanna’s ideals," while other ministers have opted for silence amid the sensitive issue. The Lingayat Mathadhishara Okkuta and allied mutts have united in denouncing the rhetoric, emphasizing its potential to undermine the community's cultural heritage rooted in 12th-century philosopher Basavanna's teachings of equality and social reform.

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In response, authorities in Vijayapura invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to prohibit the seer's entry into the district until December 14, a measure upheld by the Karnataka High Court's Kalaburagi Bench on October 17. The court noted that "even ordinary citizens do not use such language," highlighting the inflammatory nature of the speech. Police remain on high alert in Lingayat-stronghold districts to prevent escalation, with community elders warning that unchecked provocations could fracture unity within the influential group, which comprises about 17% of Karnataka's population.

This incident revives longstanding debates over Lingayatism's separate religious status, a demand that has influenced Karnataka's politics for decades, including electoral strategies and cultural policies. As protests continue, the episode underscores lingering tensions between regional mutts and the broader push for Lingayat identity recognition, potentially impacting social harmony in the state. Community leaders urge dialogue to resolve the rift, stressing the need to protect Basava's legacy from divisive rhetoric.

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