Minister Yathindra clarifies palace remarks and seeks royal family's support for Dasara

Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah has clarified that he never claimed the 'Ambari' and the royal throne belonged to the government. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dr. Yathindra explained that he had only stated the government paid rent for using the golden howdah during the Jamboo Savari. Responding to remarks by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, he noted that whether the payment is called royalty or rent, the government paid for its use.

Palace Ownership

Addressing his earlier comments that the palace and the Palace Board belong to the Karnataka government except for the family's residential portion, Dr. Yathindra stated that the palace was built with public money. He acknowledged that the Maharajas constructed it, but emphasized that the money came from public taxes. He also praised the erstwhile royal family for cooperating in organizing Dasara over the years, despite occasional confusion, and urged them to keep supporting the people's festival, or Nada Habba. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar plans to speak with the royal family regarding the recent controversy.

Wrestlers and Probe

On complaints from traditional wrestlers that police denied them entry into the palace for the Vajramushti Kalaga on Vijayadashami, Dr. Yathindra confirmed that complaints were received and action will be taken against the officials involved. He also commented on the probe into an alleged sting operation against former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, expressing full faith in the ongoing police investigation. He stated that Mr. Siddaramaiah recently shared his version of these political developments with Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, and the government wants the probe to reach a logical conclusion with all evidence submitted to the court.

Context

Public festivals like Dasara in Mysuru often involve a unique blend of state administration and historical royal traditions. Disagreements over property rights, palace upkeep, and cultural roles occasionally arise between local elected officials and descendants of former ruling families. Such public discussions highlight the ongoing negotiations over heritage management and state funding in historical Indian cities.