Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited the wrath of people of Mysuru, his home district, following a disrespectful remark about Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, an illustrious ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Mysuru.
A video clip of the CM’s remark, which went viral days after ruling party legislators of Mysuru met the leader for release of funds to provide a facelift to century old Devaraja Market, a heritage structure, has triggered a spate of caustic remarks against Mr Siddaramaiah on social media.
BJP spokesperson C T Ravi, MLA, has tweeted: “People are watching your behavior. They will give 'Retirement Bhagya' to you after 2018 Assembly polls” Sources said the legislators requested Mr Siddaramaiah to expedite construction of a portion of the market which collapsed one and a half years ago due to bad maintenance by Mysore City Corporation. Mr Siddaramaiah reportedly remarked: “He (Krishnaraja Wadiyar) was a king, but not God. He had built this market out of people's money.”
Residents of Mysuru felt none could doubt the contributions of the late Krishnaraja Wadiyar to the erstwhile Mysuru state. His wife reportedly sold silver, gold and diamond jewelry in Mumbai to meet a shortfall of Rs two lakhs during construction of KRS dam across the river Cauvery at Kannambadi village in Srirangapatna taluk-a lifeline of farmers of both Mysuru and Mandya districts.
