Bengaluru: After locking horns over the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations, the ruling Congress and the BJP now seem to be readying for a fresh bout over the Bahmani Utsav in Kalaburgi district, which will highlight the rich contributions of the Bahmani rulers to Karnataka's art, architecture and culture.
Sensing trouble, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already distanced himself from the proposed celebrations, claiming his government has not organised them and he has nothing to do with them. "You ask the minister concerned, who has made an announcement about the festival,"he told reporters here.
But not convinced, BJP MP, Shobha Karandlaje warned the government would be responsible for any trouble that broke out during the celebrations and indicated her party would agitate against them as it had done during Tipu Jayanthi. When contacted, Medical Education Minister ,Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, who is also in-charge of Kalaburgi district, said the March 6 utsav in Kalaburgi was a literary meet to inform the current generation about the rich contributions of Bahmani rulers.
He explained that as the district administration of Kalaburgi was celebrating 'Rashtrakoota Utsav' on March 4 and 5 in honour of the Rashtrakoota rulers , some individuals and organisations had come up with the suggestion to hold a 'Bahmani Utsav'.
"Accordingly, a literary meet has been organised by the Central University and Gulbarga University on March 6. Research scholars from both India and abroad have been invited to present papers on the Bahmani rulers," he explained, adding that the Chief Minister and Kannada and Culture Minister were not aware of it as the decision had been taken locally.
Taking a dig at BJP leaders, Dr Patil claimed they were ignorant of history and opposing the celebrations for their political ends. "What do they know about the Bahmani rulers? Have they studied their history? Our government cannot be cowed down by such threats. We are going ahead," he asserted.
