KSP chief irked over B'luru police diktat on Rajyotsava

Warns of taking to streets if the celebrations are restricted to Nov first week

 Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) President Pundalika Halambi on Friday took a strong objection to the recent order of Bengaluru city Police Commissioner N S Megharik to restrict Kannada Rajyotsava to the first week of November.

Addressing the gathering at the opening of the two-day centenary celebrations of the Parishat, Halambi said, “The (Bengaluru city) police commissioner has ordered to restrict the celebration to the first week, against celebrating it throughout the month. It is condemnable, when the number of Kannadigas in the State capital has come down to 19 per cent.”

The commissioner has quoted his counterparts in Maharashtra State where permission is given for only one week to celebrate Ganesha festival in public.

Halambi said, “While Ganesha festival is a religious practice, Kannada Rajyotsava is Kannadigas’ festival. Let them restrict it till 10 pm (daily)”.

Halambi warned of taking to the streets, if the order is implemented in toto. When policemen have failed to nab the culprits who have killed scholar M M Kalburgi, they are out to restrain Kannadigas, he criticised.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified later that the order may have been issued to check traffic snarls.

The government has no objection, even if Kannada Rajyotsava is celebrated throughout the year. The Parishat is an autonomous institution and the government will not interfere in its affairs, Siddaramaiah said.

Centenary building
Halambi said the much delayed works on building the centenary building of the Parishat at Chamarajpet in Bengaluru will be taken up in one week.

An estimated amount of Rs 3.5 crore has been set aside to construct the building, besides the Rs 1 crore grant from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), he said.