Mysuru: A Joint Action Committee, involving Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah, activists belonging to dalit, farmers and environmental organisations, met former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru recently, with a request to recommend to CM D.K. Shivakumar, to drop the proposal to organise Kambala at Sathagalli here, during Nada Habba  Mysuru Dasara.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President Badagalapura Nagendra, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) leaders Indudhar Honnapura and Guruprasad Keragodu, Sarvodaya Karnataka Party State President Chamarasa Mali Patil, Parisarakkagi Naavu General Secretary Parashurame Gowda, progressive thinker Prof. K. Kalachanne Gowda and Mysuru District Raitha Sangha President Hosur Kumar were present on the occasion.

The members the Committee, who met Siddaramaiah at his official residence, explained that following the chaotic programmes organised as part of Dasara, the traditional attractions that long defined the historical significance of the annual pageantry has lost its sheen.

Amidst this, the decision of the State Government to organise Kambala in city has caused disappointment among Mysureans. It requires a huge amount of water, cutting of hundreds of trees. But still the Government is going ahead with its plans, even as the deep rooted natives of the coastal districts, from where Kambala originated, have been expressing their resentment.

Considering all these factors, the Chief Minister should be asked to  move cautiously without causing a dent to the identity of Dasara, which signifies integrity in diversity, the Committee appealed to Siddaramaiah.