Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar, who is out on bail from ED custody in an alleged money-laundering case, is being offered mammoth apple garlands by his supporters wherever he goes. And just after he passes the venue where he is offered the garland, it is a mad scramble for apples, a relatively expensive fruit.
On Friday, Mr. Shivakumar was welcomed with huge garlands in four places — at Naguvanahalli near Srirangapatna, besides at three places in Mandya city. The garlands were hauled up using hydraulic cranes.
Soon after, it was a scramble for apples. Supporters and the public could be seen in all four places trying to get as many fruits as possible off the garlands to eat and take away. Within minutes, it was just the rope that was left dangling from the crane. In the scramble there were also a huge number fruits that were damaged and left useless.
“The cost of apple is at least ₹120 a kg today. I will carry these for my children,” said Channe Gowda of Kothathi, who had collected at least 3 kg of apples. Many of them, however, were damaged.
A stampede-like situation prevailed for a while near t he KSRTC bus stand following the crowd trying to snatch the fruits.
Mr. Shivakumar has been on a visit to places in Old Mysore region over the last two days.
