Hirannaiah's 'faux pas' on CM triggers protest

Thespian Master Hirannaiah, known for his political satire, on Sunday got the taste of his own meal, after he made a derogatory comment against AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The angry supporters of the chief minister took to streets staging protests and burning the posters of Hirannaiah. However, the issue subsided later with Hirannaiah acting swiftly and tendering an apology in person to the chief minister at the latter’s house in T K Layout.

Hirannaiah, while addressing the gathering after receiving an award from Naganava Kala Sahitya Vedike as part of its State-level poets’ meet at Nadabrahma Sangeeta Sabha, had asserted that “Siddaramaiah who was seeking the support of every body, irrespective of age, during the elections, has now changed by indulging in something else”. Hirannaiah left the venue later.

After some time, when the poets’ meet was on, a section of Congress workers led by Lokesh (Piya), under the banner of Siddaramaiah and M K Somashekar Fans’ Association, barged into the programme venue. The supporters of the chief minister vandalised the dais by breaking the plastic chairs and banging the same against the floor.

Hirannaiah, who learnt about the ripple effect of his speech, rushed straight to the chief minister’s house at T K Layout in the evening. He tendered an apology and explained to the chief minister that “it was a slip of the tongue at the sundown age of 81 years. We have been good friends and let the harmony prevail”. Siddaramaiah acknowledged the same and told the media that “there ends the matter with a person like Hirannaiah repenting for his mistake”. Siddaramaiah claimed that he was unaware of  the issue till Hirannaiah himself told him about it.

Hirannaiah expressed fear over travelling to Bangalore, knowing fully well that the chief minister’s supporters may harm him en route to the State capital. He got an assurance from the chief minister that security arrangements would be made to escort him at least till the outskirts of Mysore city.

He instructed DCP (crime and traffic) Kala Krishnaswamy to make the arrangements. The chief minister also appealed to his supporters to maintain calm. Siddaramaiah, who walked down up to the gate, saw him (Hirannaiah) off. Hirannaiah, who had come along with his daughter-in-law Shobha in his Toyota Innova, was later escorted by the police.

Even as Hirannaiah sought forgiveness from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, angry supporters of the latter were not ready to let him off. Hirannaiah later said, “It’s my last public appearance in Mysore and will not step into the city again. “My career began in Mysore and let it end here,” said Hirannaiah.