Charukeerthy Bhattaraka Swamy of Jain Mutt has appealed to the union government to sanction ₹100 crore for the Prakrit University, a first in the country that is coming up at Shravanabelgola in Hassan district.
Speaking at the inauguration of International Prakrit Conference, the seer said the Centre for Studies in Prakrit language was set up utilising ₹50 lakh provided by M.Veerappa Moily during his tenure as Chief Minister. “Karnataka government has decided to develop the centre into a university. The government has earmarked ₹21 crore for this purpose. But, that is not sufficient. The centre must provide at least ₹100 crore for the university,” he said.
The amount could be utilised for setting up the university and an international guest house for scholars from different parts of the world, he said.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs H.N. Ananth Kumar, responding to the seer's appeal, said he would apprise Union Minister for Human Resources Development Prakash Javdekar about the same, besides ensuring that the funds are provided.
“I am glad the first university of Prakrit is coming up at Shravanabelgola. I will also meet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and appeal him to set up the second Prakrit University at Vaishali, the birthplace of Lord Mahaveer, in Bihar,” he said.
The minister said he would be a representative of the mutt in Delhi and respond to the needs of the mutt with regard to the Mahamastakabhisheka. “I am told the mutt would invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Mahamastakabhisheka. I will be representative of the mutt in taking the invitation to the Prime Minister,” he added.
