The Hindu : Karnataka News : Mysore Palace takeover: Dharam Singh denies reports

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 07, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Mysore Palace takeover: Dharam Singh denies reports

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, OCT. 6. With eight days to go for the Dasara festival in the former royal city of Mysore confusion prevailed over the Government's appointment of a commissioner to go into the issue of takeover of the main palace.

The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, who is away in Bidar, said that he had would take a decision after verifying the facts. He denied reports by news agencies that he had ordered a stay on the acquisition of the Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas).

Misquoted

Mr. Singh said that he had been misquoted while speaking to presspersons at Bhalki in Bidar district. Asked about the appointment of a special officer (commissioner) for the purpose, he said that he was not aware of the details and promised to take action after studying the matter.

The agencies had quoted Mr. Singh as having said that he had instructed the officials not to go ahead with the acquisition process as it was an emotive and sensitive issue, especially in the context of the coming Dasara festivities. He had asked the Chief Secretary, K.K. Misra, to stall the proceedings, the agencies had reported.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who too is away in Bidar district, denied any knowledge about the Chief Minister's reported statement about staying the acquisition proceedings. Mr. Siddaramaiah hails from Mysore and as Deputy Chief Minister in the Janata Dal Government was party to the adoption of the Bill to acquire the palace.

Challenged

However, what is surprising about the whole move is that the former Yuvaraja of Mysore, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, has challenged the Government's move to acquire the palace under the Mysore Palace Acquisition and Transfer Act of 1998 in the Supreme Court. The entire matter is sub judice.

But the concern of everyone in Mysore was whether the Government's latest move, which is most provocative to the former royal family, which occupies one portion of the palace, would cast its shadow over the festivities.

Denied

Vinay Kumar, who has been appointed Commissioner of the Mysore Palace Board, has scotched speculations that his arrival in Mysore was in connection with the recovery of the property. He told presspersons in Mysore that he was there to inspect the Mandakalli airport, which has been proposed for upgrading, and he was yet to study the Palace Acquisition Act.

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