Mysuru: District minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Wednesday ruled out apologising to the Mysuru royal family over his recent remarks, saying he had neither disrespected the royal family nor misrepresented facts.
My statements were only a response to these suggestions,” he told reporters. Regarding the cancellation of the Vajramushti wrestling event, she said members of the Jatti community were permitted entry through the Brahmapuri gate. However, Yathindra maintained that the administration functions under a democratic system governed by the constitution. “We are living in a democracy. As legislators and ministers, we take our oath under the constitution. I was compelled to respond after royal family matriarch Pramoda Devi Wadiyar suggested that the Dasara procession be held on the day of Chamundeshwari Rathotsava, and that the royal family would have to reconsider providing the golden howdah. Meanwhile, Pramoda Devi requested the organisers of Thursday’s protest against minister Yathindra’s statement to call that off. Three of the four teams arrived on time, while the fourth arrived late and insisted that members without official passes be allowed inside, eventually leaving after a delay.
Speaking to reporters earlier, BJP state president BY Vijayendra demanded an apology from Yathindra and Shivakumar for the remarks against the royal family.
Latkar said the howdah was collected from the palace after providing an undertaking on its safety and was returned securely after the procession. Meanwhile, DCF (wildlife) said that there was no precedence to inform the Mysuru royal family or Pramoda Devi Wadiyar about the howdah elephant. In a report submitted to the DC, she clarified that no police officers, staff or their family members were permitted unnecessary access to the area near the golden howdah. Palace representatives accompanied it throughout. She added that barricades were installed inside the Mysuru Palace premises after consultations with the district administration to regulate access without obstructing religious rituals and traditional ceremonies of the royal family. But this time they did, he has stated in a report to the DC.