Obama and the Dalai Lama are to arrive in December to lay the foundation stone of the International Yoga and Meditation Centre.
Published Aug 31, 2023 | 8:23 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 31, 2023 | 8:23 PM
Barack Obama and Tibetan priest Dalai Lama are scheduled to arrive in December. (Creative Commons)
Former US President Barack Obama and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama are scheduled to visit Karnataka in December to lay the foundation stone of the International Yoga and Meditation Centre being constructed by the Bhutayi Trust at Hallegere in Mandya.
A delegation led by the President of Bhutayi Trust at Hallegere, and US-based Dr Lakshminarasimha Murthy, along with Mandya district in-charge minister Cheluvarayaswamy, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, 31 August, to discuss the former US President’s visit to Mandya in December.
The delegation requested the chief minister to provide infrastructure such as a helipad, road, drains, electricity, drinking water, etc, in Hallegere.
In response, Siddaramaiah assured that an officers’ meeting would be held shortly to work out the details, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said.
During the meeting, the delegation explained the nature of the centre’s work and emphasised that it would make a significant contribution not only to Hallegere and Mandya district, but to the entire state. They also highlighted the social work being carried out by the trust.
Appreciating the work of Bhutayi Trust, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded positively and assured that a meeting with the officials would be organised to discuss the relevant issues.
Vidhan Parishad MLA Dinesh Gooligowda, along with MLAs Ravikumar Ganiga, Babu Bandissidde Gowda, and the former president of AKKA Kannada organisation, Shivamurthy Kilara, who were part of the delegation, explained the programme details to the chief minister.
Dr Laxminarasimha Murthy is the father of Dr Vivek Murthy, the medical advisor to the current US President Joe Biden.
Dr Laxminarasimha Murthy hails from Hallegere, where he owns 13 acres of inherited land. He has planned and worked diligently to establish an international-level yoga and meditation center, at an estimated cost of about ₹80 crore, through the Bhutayi Trust.
The Murthy family is engaged in exemplary social work through the Trust, the statement said.
The Mandya district administration is providing full cooperation for the initiatives undertaken by the trust. MLA Dinesh Gooligowda announced a grant of ₹10 lakh from his MLA’s regional development fund for the trust.
