The Minister for Forests, Environment and Environment on Thursday said there is an urgent need for Veerashaiva and Lingayat unity in Belagavi.
“The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is one of the largest communities in the state.” “However, it is unfortunate that today they are at a crossroads. We have to make a big effort to unite these communities. We have to recognize that the contribution of the pontiffs and various organizations in the field of education and for the growth of the community is immense. We have to strengthen and develop our community through organized efforts,” said Mr. Khandre, General Secretary of the All-India Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Free Hostel for Veerashaiva–Lingayat women students built by the All-India Veerashaiva–Lingayat Mahasabha at Subhash Nagar. The hostel is named in memory of the donor Annapoorna Basalingappa Bellad, Kabbur.
“The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is immensely powerful. On one hand, several pontiffs have spread education and moved the society forward. On the other hand, institutions like KLE, BVB and BLDE have contributed greatly. The community, which was earlier economically backward, has improved greatly due to the unmatched services of many great leaders. Still, it is worrying that Mr. Khandre is making us socially weaker,” he said.
Mr. Khandre said Prabhakar Kore, chairman of KLE and vice-president of the Mahasabha, was instrumental in starting the hostel in Belagavi. The Mahasabha decided to set up such hostels for girls in every district.
A hostel for 1,000 students would soon be constructed in Bengaluru and the Mahasabha would soon start working towards this goal, he said. He urged parents and female students to take advantage of the vast opportunities available to them and pursue higher education.
Council chairman Basavaraj Horatti also expressed concern over the internal differences between the various Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities. “We have to rise above these divisions and unite and gain political power,” he said.
BJP state president BY Vijayendra alleged that vested interests are trying to divide the community from within, which is pushing the community back. “There is a need for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community to emerge as a strong, united force,” he said.
Minister MB Patil said the hostel is a great asset to the community. He said that the state government would continue to support Prabhakar Kore’s efforts for the development of education.
Minister Sharanprakash Patil urged the hostel managers to train the girls in Basava traditions like Ishta Linga pooja and recitation of Vachanas.
Dr. Kore said that his long-time dream was to set up a hostel for poor female students who come to Belagavi in search of college and university education and that it has come true. He recalled the donation of 24 guntas of land at subsidized rates by the then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.
The hostel was built at a cost of over ₹3 million. All necessary facilities have been provided here and it currently has 21 rooms, each named after the donors, he said.
“Though the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community has rich individuals who could build such an institution on their own, I strongly believed that it had to be a collective effort of the community. Many donors came forward. Among them, renowned businessman Mahesh Bellad contributed ₹ 1 million, which was a great example of generosity. The hostel was named Basalingappapoorna in honor of his mother.
Sri Gurusiddha Mahaswami of Karanjimath, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, Mahasabha State President Shankar Bidari, Industrialist and Donor Mahesh B. Bellad, MLAs Raju Kage, Mahantesh Koujalagi, Shailendra Beldale, MY Patil, Ganesh Hukkeri, BRshiran Patil, Nashi Hanmorajant, MLC Hattiholi, Former MLA Mahantesh Kavatagimath, HB Rajashekhar, Asha Prabhakar Kore and another one.
Published – 12 Dec 2025 21:07 IST
