JLM urges the government to retain management of Anubhava Mantapa

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A view of the Anubhava Mantapa under construction at Basavakalyan in Bidar district. | Photo Credit: File photo

Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM) has urged the government of Karnataka to retain ownership and management control of the Anubhava Mantapa.

This comes two days after the JLM general body resolved to seek day-to-day management of the institution from the government of Karnataka.

“The State government should retain control over the Anubhava Mantapa currently being constructed in Basavakalyan in Bidar district. It should not be handed over to any private organisation or mutt,” national general secretary of the JLM S.M. Jamadar told reporters in Belagavi on Wednesday. “The government should, however, consult stakeholder Lingayat organisations,” he said.

“The government should constitute a special committee comprising representatives of Lingayat mutts and Lingayat organisations to plan events, handle the day-to-day management and discharge specific responsibilities at the Anubhava Mantapa. Through this committee, mass lunches under the Dasoha programme and literary programmes should be conducted.

“Programmes such as vachana study camps and workshops should be organised. The JLM has resolved at its recent national annual general meeting to conduct programmes focusing on the philosophy of Basavanna and Sharana saints, Kayaka, gender equality and the eradication of the caste system,” he said.

“Minister Eshwar Khandre has said that the Anubhava Mantapa will be inaugurated in March 2027. However, a grant of ₹450 crore is yet to be released by the government to complete the project. Roadwork connecting to the Mantapa has stalled. We have information that construction of the Dasoha hall, pilgrim accommodation and parking facilities has not yet been approved, nor have tenders been invited. It will take another three to four months for these works to commence. Despite these hurdles, inaugurating the project in haste for political reasons is inappropriate. We therefore demand that the inauguration be postponed till January 2028,” he said.

“Some mutts and individuals aligned with the Sangh Parivar are planning to organise the ‘Basava Bharata’ programme. We have no objection to this. However, we will not remain silent if Basava philosophy is distorted or misrepresented, or if Hindutva is incorporated into the programme,” he said.

“We have resolved to launch a special campaign in January 2027 to print and distribute pamphlets across all taluks and rural areas, providing guidance to the Lingayat community regarding the caste census scheduled for 2026-27,” he said.

“Inter-caste and inter-faith marriages are on the rise within the Lingayat community. The JLM has decided to establish a special unit in every district to offer advice and guidance to such couples,” he said.

“We have decided to reach out to organisations representing the 38 sub-sects within the Lingayat community and offer them membership in the Mahasabha,” he said.