The government’s annual Valmiki Jayanti celebration at the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday was a lacklustre event with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the chief guest for the programme, and his father H.D. Deve Gowda, the recipient of Maharshi Valmiki award for 2018, skipping it.
This incurred the wrath of community leaders, particularly in the context of ensuing byelections. The Valmiki community constitutes a significant chunk of voters in Ballari.
With the chief guests absent, Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge, who took over the event, was the main speaker.
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The Chief Minister decided to stay away at the last moment as he was ill and was taken to Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences.
His father was unable to attend as he left for U.K. on Wednesday morning to participate in the Global Achievers’ Conclave in London.
Although Mr. Deve Gowda had informed the government that he will be unable to attend the event, he made a quick stop at Vidhana Soudha to garland the Valmiki statue.
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Leaders angry
The Valmiki community leaders, who were upset over the absence of the Chief Minister as well as Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who is campaigning in Jamkhandi, demanded that the organisers remove both their photographs put up on the dais.
According to the Chief Minister’s office, Mr. Kumaraswamy was feeling unwell for the last three days. “With an upset stomach, he was feeling dehydrated and had developed dizziness and fatigue. As he also has heart ailments, he decided to see his cardiologist and hence skipped the event. He has been advised a day’s rest,” said an official from the CM’s office.
C.N. Manjunath, Director of Jayadeva Institute, said the Chief Minister is doing fine after evaluation on an out-patient basis. “His cardiac activity is normal, but he is suffering from fatigue after his busy schedule during the Dasara celebrations in Mysuru,” the doctor said.