Hassan DC Latha Kumari met former PM HD Deve Gowda at Bengaluru and invited him for the Hasanamba festival
Hassan: The district administration has invited former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to the Hasanamba Festival after facing criticism from JD(S) leaders for initially leaving him out. Excise and district minister KM Shivalingegowda and MP Shreyas Patel were absent. They had led efforts to invite chief minister DK Shivakumar , former chief minister Siddaramaiah , Adichunchanagiri Mutt seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami and several state ministers. Their absence triggered further resentment among JD(S) legislators and leaders, who accused them of bringing politics into the annual religious festival. Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad , Bajrang Dal, Hasanamba-Siddeshwara Swamy Pilgrimage Service Committee, Traders’ Association, Priests’ Association and other organisations protested, demanding separate darshan facilities for residents, continuous darshan arrangements and an inquiry into alleged corruption in festival-related contracts. Hundreds of protesters marched from Hemavathi statue through Subhash Circle, Kasturba Road and Gandhi Bazaar Road before blocking traffic at NR Circle and forming a human chain. They raised slogans against district administration and the district minister. The protesters submitted a memorandum at the DC’s office. Former MLA Preetham J Gowda and BJP district president Siddesh Nagendra joined the protest. JD(S) MLA HP Swaroop Prakash and Aam Aadmi Party state vice-president Agile Yogesh also sought separate darshan facilities for local devotees.