Lingayat Leaders and Ministers Urge Karnataka CM for Budget Allocation

Bengaluru, Feb 24 (NationPress) A group of Lingayat seers, ministers, and MLAs convened with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday at his Bengaluru residence to present a comprehensive list of demands ahead of the state budget.

The delegation called for an allocation of Rs 500 crore over the next five years to fulfill their requests, emphasizing the necessity of preserving Basavanna’s legacy for future generations.

They stated, 'This will be a historical initiative that will always be remembered.'

Prior to the meeting, the religious leaders, ministers, and legislators from the Lingayat community gathered for discussions at the residence of M.B. Patil, the Minister for Large and Medium Industries, in Bengaluru.

Key figures including swamijis, current and former legislators, and prominent community leaders participated in the session.

They later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister at Kaveri, his official residence.

The seers proposed various demands, including a budget allocation of Rs 100 crore for the current year, contributing to the total of Rs 500 crore over four years, aimed at effectively disseminating the teachings of Vishwaguru Basaveshwara, recognized as Karnataka’s cultural leader.

During the recent 13th Akhila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Sammelana in Chitradurga, seers, scholars, and thinkers urged the government to take decisive action in introducing Basavanna to the youth.

After extensive discussions, a unified set of recommendations was created.

The delegation requested immediate budget allocation from the Chief Minister to implement these initiatives.

They also called for the installation of a significant Basavanna statue along Bengaluru’s International Airport Road.

Additional demands included the establishment of a large-scale ‘Sharana Darshan’ center on a 25-acre plot in Bengaluru, inspired by Akshardham, featuring a park, library, guest house, community meal center, and auditorium to promote tourism. They also requested the construction of ‘Basava Bhavans’ in all district headquarters and other locations.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured the delegation of the government’s full commitment to Basava’s philosophy, Vachana culture, and the legacy of the Sharanas.

He pledged that the religious leaders' demands would be addressed in a phased manner, depending on their feasibility.

'I took my oath as Chief Minister for the first time on Basava Jayanti. It was our Congress government that mandated the display of Basavanna’s portrait in government offices,' he remarked.

He stressed that Basavanna’s ideology and struggle are crucial for building an egalitarian society.

'Casteist elites do not accept Basavanna’s ideals. Unable to oppose him openly, they resist his ideology internally,' he stated.

CM Siddaramaiah highlighted the deeply rooted nature of the caste system, noting that the elite continue to sustain it. 'Basavanna’s fight is essential for creating a casteless and equal society. Our caste system is stagnant, and a society marked by caste and economic stagnation cannot progress,' he said.

He further noted, 'Basavanna’s ideas align with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s thoughts, both of which are embedded in our Constitution.'

He also emphasized the government's commitment to revitalizing the Anubhava Mantapa, an ancient platform for democratic discourse.

'No one pressured us to undertake this initiative. Our government voluntarily decided to revive Anubhava Mantapa, the first democratic forum in history,' he stated.

'It was the Congress government that declared Basavanna a cultural leader.'