A 33-year-old Muslim man named Diwan Sharief Mulla has become the head of a new Lingayat mutt that is set to come up soon in Gadag in Karnataka. The Lingayats follow the principles of social reformer and Bhakti saint Basava, who has inspired Mulla to follow the path of social justice.

The institution's Kajuri Swamiji has given Mulla the 'ishta linga', media reports have said.

The Lingayat mutt of which Mulla has become the leader is one of the 361 monasteries under the aegis of the Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Matha of Chitradurga.

The Muslim leader has said that nobody has opposed his decision to lead the Lingayat Mutt, which is largely of Hindu nature.

Commentators are of the view that the incident will go into mending the straining relationship betwee Hindu and Muslim communities.