Political cum spiritual retreat for Karnataka legislators begins

More than 65 legislators cutting across party lines descended on Suttur Srikshetra, a religious institution situated on the banks of river Kapila in Mysore district, about 170 kms from here for a rare political-cum spiritual retreat organized to inculcate in them moral values and social responsibilities.

The three day camp for the members of the Legislative Assembly as well as the Legislative Council, which began at Suttur on Tuesday, comes less than two months after a brain-storming session on management practices was held for the first-time Ministers of BJP Government at Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B).

Legislators from not only the ruling BJP, but also the Opposition Congress and JD (S) are participating in the camp that features lectures on subjects like “value-based politics” and “social responsibilities” by a battery of learned spiritual leaders and scholars from different backgrounds.

The camp, which essentially seeks to bring about a moral change among the legislators, will also have sessions on meditation and yoga.

A couple of Ministers of the B S Yeddyurappa-led Government in the State are also among the legislators participating in the camp. “Though more than 104 legislators had enrolled themselves for the camp, about 65 to 70 of them attended the first day’s session on Tuesday”, co-ordinator of camp Channabasappa told reporters.

Organized by the Suttur Math, a religious institution of Lingayats, a caste to which Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa belongs, the unique conclave was inaugurated by founder of Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev.

“This is the first religious institution to have taken the lead in inculcating among the legislators the nuances of value-based politics”, said Channabasappa.

While Magsaysay award winners Anna Hazare and Prakash Amte will guide the legislators on the importance of nation-building, while D Veerendra Heggade of the Dharmasthala Math will deliver a lecture on Religious Institution and Rural Development.

Lectures on Legislature and Proceedings besides Legislators and Social Commitments will also be part of the three-day programme. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will be delivering the valedictory address on Thursday, the last day of the conclave.

Channabasappa said the proceedings of the three-day meeting will be recorded and a book will be brought out on the findings and results of the camp. “Based on the results and speeches at the camp, the Math plans to bring out a handbook for legislators which will contain the dos and don’ts for them and their duties and principles”, Channabasappa said.