Mysuru Dussehra row: Karnataka CM orders probe into ministers being stopped at puja venue

Bengaluru, Oct 22 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to conduct an inquiry into the incident in which ministers were allegedly prevented by police officers from entering the Nandi Dhwaja (Nandi Flag) puja venue at the Mysuru Palace premises.

Ministers Balakrishna, Narendraswamy and Basavanthappa were allegedly denied entry to the puja venue during the ritual held at the beginning of the Mysuru Dussehra procession on October 21, an official statement by CMO said on Thursday.

According to the statement, Shivakumar said he intervened personally to facilitate the ministers' entry, but expressed displeasure over the conduct of the officials concerned.

"Officials by preventing ministers from entering the venue, have acted in an unacceptable manner. I intervened personally and ensured that the ministers were allowed in. However, such indifference on the part of officials cannot be tolerated," he said.

The chief minister said he had directed the Chief Secretary to investigate the incident and submit a report identifying those responsible.

Action will be taken against the officials found guilty after the report is received, he added.

A police officer was caught on video attempting to block at least three ministers: Basavanthappa, Narendraswamy and Shivaraj Tangadagi.

Minister Balakrishna, whose name was mentioned in the CMO's statement, was not seen in the video that has gone viral.

Speaking to reporters, Minister Basavanthappa said he and other ministers were not informed of any protocol restricting their movement.

"We would have known if there was any such protocol. There was no restriction on the movement of ministers. I do not know why we were stopped despite the officers knowing that we were ministers," he said.

He said the CM has ordered an inquiry and action against the officials who behaved inappropriately.

The Opposition BJP and JD(S) alleged that the three ministers -- Tangadagi, Narendraswamy and Basavanthappa -- were stopped because they were Dalits.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, questioned the reason for stopping the senior ministers and alleged that they were denied entry because of their caste.

"Why was there an attempt to obstruct the entry of Ministers Tangadagi, Narendraswamy and Basavanthappa? Was it solely because they are Dalits? Was there any such instructions to officers," he asked, demanding answers from CM Shivakumar.

He alleged that the Congress government's commitment to equality and social justice was confined to speeches.

"I have called this government anti-Dalit several times. There is suspicion in this incident too, as all three ministers were Dalits," he said.

Targeting Shivakumar, the JD(S) posted on 'X' that using Dalits merely as a vote bank and insulting them once in power is the Congress' culture. Stopping and humiliating Dalit ministers is "condemnable."

"Our demand is just this: All Dalit ministers in the cabinet must condemn the manner in which the chief minister and his officials behaved. Moreover, working under someone who has dealt a blow to your self-respect is itself an insult. It's up to you whether you'll all tender resignations and walk out, or set aside your dignity and carry on," it said.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said it was inappropriate to give a caste dimension to incidents arising during the enforcement of security and protocol, calling it "cheap thinking."

He said the CM has a prescribed protocol that the police are required to enforce strictly, particularly during events involving huge crowds where security arrangements have to be closely followed.

"There may have been instructions that no one other than the chief minister should be allowed beyond a particular point. I do not have the exact details. But if the police acted on instructions from their senior officers, what is wrong with them carrying out their duty," he asked. PTI