Billava leaders miffed over ₹10cr sanction for cell

Mangaluru: Billava leaders have expressed their anger over the Karnataka government sanctioning Rs 10 crore for the newly created Sri Narayana Guru Development Cell, instead of setting up a Brahmasri Narayana Guru Development Corporation.
Billava community leader R Padmaraj said that the government has been creating confusion, by not setting up the Brahmasri Narayana Guru Development Corporation. He said that chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had agreed to withdraw the decision of setting up a Sri Narayana Guru Development Cell, and promised to set up a Brahmasri Narayana Guru Development Corporation. However, the government has continued the process of setting up the cell, by sanctioning Rs 10 crore for the same, on January 6, he said.
A delegation of Billava leaders led by Kannada and culture minister V Sunil Kumar had met chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on January 5. The delegation had opposed the government’s proposal of setting up a cell for the welfare of the community. Though the chief minister had given assurances of setting up a corporation for the community’s welfare, the government has not stopped the process of formation of the proposed Cell, Padmaraj said.
“This is a move to misguide the community, which has 26 sects, including Billavas and Edigas. The community has been demanding the setting up of a Brahmasri Narayana Guru Development Corporation with a corpus fund of Rs 500 crore. The creation of a Sri Narayana Guru Development Cell is an injustice to the community. If the government has no intention of setting a corporation, then the same should be disclosed to the people,” he said.