Mysuru: Minister for Tourism and Sericulture S.R. Mahesh was felicitated at a programme organised by Karnataka Rajya Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Adi Dravida (Pourkarmika) Yuvakara Abhivruddhi Maha Sangha at Town Hall in city on Saturday.

The Minister was presented an ‘Ashoka Stambha’ and a Nandi idol on the occasion.

Mayor Bhagyavathi, former Mayor M.J. Ravi Kumar, Corporator K.V. Mallesh, SBM Manju, B.V. Manjunath, JD(S) Leader Rajanna and others   were present.

Earlier, speaking on the sidelines of the programme, the Minister, referring to the relocation of Mysore Race Course, said that the titular head of the Royal family Yaduveer Wadiyar, who is against the relocation of the Race Course, should first visit the race course and have an understanding of its activities.

Stating that Yaduveer should take stock of the Race Course activities, when he would come to know of the losses it has caused to the State’s exchequer, Mahesh said Yaduveer can make public statements later.

Maintaining that it was essential to know the activities of MRC in the huge landscape of the Race Course, the Minister said a public debate can later be held on whether the Race Course must be shifted to another location or not.

Asserting that he would not backtrack on the promise of selling Mysore Slik Sarees at Rs.4,500 as a gift to women for Mahalakshmi Festival, he said that the sale of sarees at discounted prices will commence three days before the  festival in August.

He further said that the sarees will be sold only to those who register first and the scope of the sale will be expanded in the future.