Kalaburagi: The seers of many prominent Veerashaiva-Lingayat mathas in the region, who were till recently divided over the issue of according an independent status to the Lingayat religion, today set aside their differences and came together on a single platform to extend their support to the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is being dubbed as the leader of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mathas.
The swamijis today organised a special function to felicitate Mr Yediyurappa for renaming Hyderabad Karnataka region as Kalyana Karnataka where a strong message was sent that the mathadhipathis were behind the Lingayat leader.
While praising the contributions of Mr Yediyurappa for the development of mathas, not merely those belonging to the Veerashaiva-Lingayats in the state during his previous tenure as chief minister, these swamijis warned of coming to the streets if any attempts were made to destabilise the Yediyurappa led government.
Shri Basavalinga Pattedevaru of Bhalki Hirematha, who was in the forefront of the agitation for separate Lingayat religion, which was being viewed an agitation instigated by the previous Siddaramaiah government to scuttle the chances of Mr Yediyurappa becoming CM again in 2018, shared the dias with Mr Yediyurappa today.
The Pattadevaru, who heads the Anubhav Mantap at Basavakalyana, showered encomiums on Mr Yediyurappa his contributions to the development of sites associated with the lives of Shivasharanas at Basavakalyana. “Except for Mr Yediyurappa no chief minister has sanctioned any grants for the development of Basavakalyana. Though a blueprint has been prepared for the establishment of a modernday Anubhav Mantap at a cost of Rs 600 crore during the time of Mr Siddaramaiah and a memorandum was submitted to his successor Mr Kumaraswamy not even a single paise has been sanctioned. Perhaps the Kalyana is awaiting the attention of Mr Yediyurappa,” he said.
Speaking at the function organised to felicitate Mr Yediyurappa, various swamijis showered praise on Mr Yediyurappa for caring for the welfare of mathas in the state. Some swamjjs even went to the extent of calling him as “Modern Day Basavanna.”
Shivamurthy Swamy of Devapur Matha, who described Mr Yediyurappa as “Leader of the Swamjis” warned that the swamijis would take to the streets if any attempt was made to destablise his government.
Mr Yediyurappa expressed his gratitude to the Swamjis for organising a programme for felicitating him. “I have got elephantine power due to the blessings of the swamjis. I'm committed for the developemt of the region. The mathas have played a significant role in the Anna-Shikshana and Dharma Dasoha in the region. If the mathas had not existed, this region would have been very very backward,” Mr Yediyurappa added. Mr Yediyurappa today announced sanctioning of Rs 50 crore for the establishment of an “Anubhav Mantap” in Kalaburagi.
Mr Yediyurappa said Rs 20 crore would be released immediately for the purpose. “My government will sanction Rs 50 crore for a grand Anubhav Mantap in place of the existing smaller one, in Kalaburagi. You can start the work immediately as my government would release Rs 20 crore now itself. Moreover I will sanction 20 acres of land for the purpose,” Mr Yediyurappa stated.
He announced sanctioning of Rs 3 crore for a Veerashaiva hostel here.
