November 30, 2018
The BJP in Karnataka has taken strong exception to the state government’s decision not to celebrate Hampi Utsav, citing the drought condition in the state. So far, 100 taluks in 24 districts of the state have been declared drought-hit.
Water Resources Minister and senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Tuesday had announced, “There’ll be no Hampi Utsav in Karnataka this year. Last year, the festival was held at a cost of Rs 15 crore. This time, all taluks in the district are drought-hit. Also, we need at least a month to prepare. After a discussion with the Chief Minister, the festival stands cancelled for the current year.”
Hampi, a tourist hotspot located in Ballari district and is home to the erstwhile Vijayanagar Empire ruins, hosts a three-day festival, which is organised by the state government. The events include cultural events, including music shows, puppet shows, dance performances by artists from the state and elsewhere, apart from other recreational activities.
But the BJP has now questioned why the government chose to celebrate the controversial Tipu Jayanti earlier on November 10, despite stiff opposition from the party and other pro-Hindu groups alleging Muslim appeasement by the Congress.
Taking to Twitter, the party called the state government “pseudo secular”, saying it had the money and the reason to celebrate Tipu Jayanti but not to celebrate the golden era of Vijayanagar.
“Pseudo secular government in Karnataka had all money and reason to celebrate Tippu
Jayanthi but it cancelled Hampi Utsav Citing drought excuse. For this govt, a fanatic and Persian language imposer is pride of Karnataka. But celebrating golden era of Vijayanagar kingdom is burden,” it tweeted.
Earlier in a tweet, BJP’s district MLA and former MP Sriramulu had said, “When you celebrated Krithjnatha Samvesha in Ballari, did you not remember the drought, that you now remember (thr drought) during Hampi Utsav? Show your care for farmers by waiving farmers’ debt and by cooperating with the Central Drought Study Team.”
Source : The News Minute
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