Karnataka: Barack Obama, wife Michelle Obama likely to visit Mandya district soon; Here's why
Mandya, Karnataka is gearing up for a momentous event in November as former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama are set to visit the region to inaugurate a spiritual center. This center has been constructed by the family of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has served under both Obama and the current President, Joe Biden.
The spiritual center, will be a global symbol, as it aims to connect with people from all corners of the world. The project, situated on a sprawling 12-acre expanse, carries a price tag of Rs 70 crore. The SCOPE Foundation is providing the funding for this innovative endeavor.
One of the center's striking features is an impressive 11-foot tall statue of Mother Earth, sculpted from a single piece of rock. The statue will be adorned with blue granite and whitestone, symbolizing water and waves. Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, known for crafting a statue of Subash Chandra Bose, has been chosen by Hallegere Lakshmi Narashima Murthy, Dr. Murthy's father, to bring this vision to life.
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In addition to the Mother Earth statue, the spiritual center will house 64 statues of philosophers spanning from Socrates to Swami Vivekananda. This integration of diverse philosophical voices underlines the center's commitment to fostering spiritual and intellectual growth.
The upcoming Yoga and Meditation Sathwik Centre, an integral part of the spiritual complex, is set to be established on eight acres of land. The foundation is planning to invite the revered Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to lay the foundation stone for this center.
As part of the project's global outreach, a walkathon promoting the concept of the "Mother of Earth" will be launched in Washington DC on September 10. Jill Biden, the U.S. First Lady, and Vice-President Kamala Harris will inaugurate this event. Similar walkathons are scheduled to take place in various cities abroad.
Hallegere Lakshmi Narashima Murthy shared insights into the project's financing, revealing, "Our family has funded several charity activities. Since the whole project needs around Rs 100 crore, we may approach some donors."
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Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
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“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
