Minister cancels feast, donates for Kodagu

Minor Irrigation Minister C S Puttaraju has cancelled the post-marriage feast (beegaru oota) that was scheduled for August 26 as part of his son’s wedding and instead decided to donate Rs 10 lakh towards the Kodagu flood relief fund.

Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, Puttaraju said, “My son’s wedding was held in Mysuru and we had decided to have a post-wedding feast in Pandavapura taluk on August 26. We had extended invitations among the people. However, I felt it is not right to have a lavish lunch when thousands of people have been rendered shelterless due to floods in Kodagu district. Hence, I am donating the money meant for the purpose to the Chief Minister’s Kodagu relief fund.”

“During my visit recently, the people of Kodagu were requesting me to get their homes built. There is a close connection between Mandya and Kodagu. Hence, it is our responsibility to extend help to the victims who have lost everything. After the Urban Local Body elections are held, I will collect funds from the people of the district, industrialists and others to construct houses for them,” he said.

Puttaraju’s son C P Shivaraju married S Tanushri at a grand wedding held at Silent Shores Resort in Mysuru on August 19. A grand reception was also held in Bengaluru on August 21 and was attended by a number of ministers, legislators and officials. As part of the wedding, a post wedding feast comprising vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, was arranged on August 26 at the stadium in Pandavapura.

Complaint

Meanwhile, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president K T Gangadhar and secretary Badagalapura Nagendra had lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission and Mandya Deputy Commissioner.

They had sought action against District in-charge Minister Puttaraju for violating the election model code of conduct by arranging a feast to lure the people ahead of the urban local body elections.