Mysuru: Former Corporator and Aniketana Seva Trust President K.V. Mallesh has defended Usha Shivakumar, wife of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, offering floral tributes to the Golden Howdah carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, saying the gesture should be seen as a message of women’s equality rather than an offence.

In a press statement, he accused MLA S. Srivatsa of portraying her participation in the ceremony as a major wrongdoing. He said the criticism reflected a narrow-minded attitude and was an insult to women.

Mallesh pointed out that Usha Shivakumar was born and brought up in Ittigegud, Mysuru. Her participation in the floral offering ceremony, as the CM’s wife and a daughter of the city, should have been a matter of pride for the constituency’s elected representative.

He noted that this was not the first time a CM’s wife had participated in the ceremony from the dais. During H.D. Kumaraswamy’s tenure as CM, his wife Anita Kumaraswamy had offered floral tributes from the stage.

He also recalled that Prema Krishna, wife of former CM S.M. Krishna, had similarly offered floral tributes from the stage during her husband’s tenure.

Questioning why Usha Shivakumar’s participation should be considered wrong, Mallesh said Goddess Chamundeshwari was revered as a symbol of power and divine feminine energy. There was nothing objectionable about a woman, particularly the Chief Minister’s wife, offering floral tributes to the goddess, he argued.