The Janata Dal (S)–Congress government of Karnataka has announced the Hampi Utsav will not be held this year. The flimsy reason given for this is that the Ballari region is facing a drought-like situation.
Hampi Utsav is a 3-day cultural festival celebrating the cultural heritage of the state. The demand for its celebration is gaining momentum. Members from various fields, including artists and politicians, have been mounting pressure on the government in this regard.
The refusal of Janata Dal (S)–Congress government to organize the festival is in stark contrast to the wholehearted support it provides for the Tipu Jayanti despite widespread agitation against the ill practice. The government has provided monetary assistance from the state budget to celebrate a festival honoring the murderer of thousands of Hindus.
This clearly shows the anti-Hindu stance of the government of Karnataka. Tipu’s Jayanti which is held on 10th of November is not even his real birthday. Former Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Thimappa Manchale Suryanarayanarao said “The tyrant Tipu’s birthday falls on November 20. November 10 is the day on which he hanged 700 Iyengars in Melkote.”
The decision of celebrating Tipu Jayanti was nothing but a cruel joke with the local communities like the Kodavas of Coorg, Nairs of Wayanad and Malabar, Zamorins of Calicut, the Mangalorean Catholics, the Jains of Dakshin Kannada, the Hindus from Dindigal and Coimbatore. It was a mockery for those against whom he had committed unspeakable crimes including forced conversions.
Despite the widespread support for the Hampi Utsav, the Karnataka Govt. has remained steadfast in its opposition and has not yet yielded to the demand. “Why should drought come in the way of organizing Hampi Utsav while other utsavs, including Mysuru Dasara, are conducted,” wonder connoisseurs of drama, dance, and music of Hampi Utsav.
Somashekar Reddy, MLA, and Channa Basavanagouda, district BJP president while addressing a joint press conference here on Sunday said, “Canceling Hampi Utsav owing to drought is not fair”. He added that “The entire State is reeling under drought, but when utsavs, including Mysuru Dasara, had been held on a grand scale, why should Hampi Utsav be canceled”.
Regarding the recent developments, DK Shivakumar, water resources minister in Karnataka government and current in charge of Ballari district, on Monday said, “If they are really concerned, BJP MLAs and MPs should join hands and raise funds for the Hampi Utsav instead of collecting money from the common man”. “This is BJP culture, collecting money from the public for any event” he added.
On this, Mr. Reddy said, “Hampi Utsav is a matter of pride and an event which passes the memories of a glorious past to the next generation. Since I cannot come to Ballari, my colleagues will provide help and cooperation. I am ready to provide monetary assistance.” He also recalled the efforts of former deputy CM MP Prakash, who started the festival in 1988.