Siddaramaiah's Son's Claim of Matching Wadiyar's Mysuru Contributions Sparks Row, Draws Opposition Ire
Congress leader and MLC Yathindra, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, stated his father’s contribution for the development of Mysuru surpassed or matched the contributions made by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore kingdom, has drawn flak from opposition parties especially Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BENGALURU: Congress leader and MLC Yathindra, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, stated his father’s contribution for the development of Mysuru surpassed or matched the contributions made by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore kingdom, has drawn flak from opposition parties especially Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Yathindra made the statement on the contributions of his father as a Chief Minister in a chat with reporters in Mysuru on Friday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah represents Varuna Assembly seat in Mysuru district and erstwhile Maharajas of Mysore ruled their Kingdom from Mysuru.
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka termed the comparison drawn by Yathindra “an insult to the Mysore royal family’ and wanted Congress MLC to tender an apology to the member of erstwhile Mysore royal family over his statement to compare contributions of his father with Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.
Ashoka pointed out the contributions of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar to Old Mysore region particularly Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) , a reservoir across River Cauvery in Mandya not only provided water to the people but enabled people to prosper. Comparing someone who pawned gold jewelry to build KRS with those who looted 14 plots in Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) is unacceptable.
Wadiyar was instrumental in building Karnataka Soaps and Detergents factory, Mysore University and initiating steps to uphold social justice, Ashoka said.
Scion of erstwhile Mysore royal family and Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha member Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar stated “Efforts to undermine the contributions of Mysore Maharajas’ will not bring dignity either to Yathindra or his father and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”
Wadiyar said “People remember the contributions of Maharajas’ of Mysore’ and stated “Because his father is the Chief Minister that does not mean he can speak recklessly.”
However, reacting to his comparison with erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore over contributions made, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Hassan told reporters “The Congress government did more development works in the Old Mysuru region than under the Bharatiya Janata Party.”
