Wodeyar unlikely to yield to Govt threat on palace

Wodeyar told The Indian Express here on Wednesday evening that he had sent a list of the functions to be held by the former royals in connection with the festival, to the state government almost ten days ago. This had included mention of a `pooja’ and other religious ceremonies in the palace on Friday preceding the assembling of the royal throne. The schedule also informed thegovernment about the other functions being held by them during Dussehra.

However, on Wednesday morning both Divisional Commissioner of the district Raju Prem Kumar and SP Iqbal Khan informed him that they wanted the keys to the Howdah room to be handed over on Friday.

He told them that since the room is traditionally not opened till the commencement of Dussehra, he would need to consult his legal counsel. He said he would get back to them on Friday evening or Saturday morning after the formalities regarding its legal implications had been worked out.

The officials however, returned the same evening at around 5 pm and “said the government insists that I hand over the keys to both the Throne room and the Howdah room on Friday”. They also said that he must give them a letter saying that he will hand over the Howdah to the state administration for use in the Dussehra procession.

This was accompanied with the ultimatum that unless he does so by “tomorrow evening or Friday morning”, they would not allowhim to have the religious function at the palace. They told him that they had consulted the Chief Secretary, the Chief Minister, the Law Secretary and the Law Minister in this matter and were acting in accordance with their directives.

Wodeyar said that in reply, he had told them that “In that case I won’t give you the Howdah. You can break the lock to the room if you like, but I will not buckle down under this kind of pressure”.

“I told them that the consequences of their action will have to be borne not just by the two officials but by the politicians involved. This is a religious function. I am an individual and therefore helpless. You have the might of the state and the police force with you. But might is not always right, I told them”.

“I also asked them to put down in writing through a letter, both the ultimatum and whatever else was conveyed to me orally. I also told them that I would henceforth not entertain any politician at the palace in this matter.”