Ill CM to keep away from Tipu event
HDK advised rest by docs, said his office amid speculation that he wanted to steer clear of row kicked up by BJP.
Bengaluru: While controversy rages over the government's decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi, the Chief Minister's office let it be known on Friday that he had been advised three days rest by his doctors and he would not attend any official function till November 11.
The announcement expectedly set off speculation that he was deliberately avoiding attending the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations on Saturday in the midst of the row kicked up by the BJP and other right wing organisations, which see the legendary Mysuru king more as a tyrant than a patriot.
But there was another surprise in store as the Department of Kannada and Culture changed the venue of the event from the Ravindra Kalakshetra to the banquet hall of Vidhana Soudha in its invitation card, which also mentioned that Deputy Chief Minister, Dr G Parameshwar would inaugurate the celebrations in place of the Chief Minister.
While the police virtually took over the Vidhana Soudha on Friday, creating four to five layers of security around it to make sure the celebrations pass off peacefully, the rumour mills continued to churn regarding Mr Kumaraswamy's decision to stay away from them.
Some claimed he did not want to kick up a fresh row ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and others said he was perhaps upset by Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Zameer Ahmed Khan being put in charge of the celebrations as he does not enjoy the best of relations with him.
A few others suggested that the Chief Minister did not want to antagonise either Hindus or Muslims with the Lok Sabha polls due next year, while others recalled he had been reluctant to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi in the past when he was not in government.
But dismissing all the theories, sources close to the Chief Minister said his doctors had advised him rest after his hectic touring for the recent bypolls and the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations were moved to the Vidhana Soudha to send a strong message to the BJP that the government would not bow to threats. The home department also reportedly felt that holding the event in Vidhana Soudha would allow for better security.