Breakfast for Mahouts

Mysuru: A minor disagreement over punctuality and time sense surfaced in the Congress camp after Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait expressed displeasure over the delay in the arrival of Mysuru District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah for a breakfast programme organised for the Mahouts and Kavadis of Dasara elephants at Mysore Palace premises this morning.

The programme was scheduled for 9 am, but Dr. Yathindra arrived only at around 10 am. Sait had reached the venue on time, while former Minister G.T. Devegowda and MLA Anil Chikkamadu also arrived late.

Upset over the delay, Tanveer Sait reportedly contacted Deputy Commissioner Dr. G. Lakshmikanth Reddy around 9.45 am and questioned the lack of punctuality. “Is there no sense of punctuality? There is a limit for everything,” he is said to have remarked.

MLA Tanveer Sait said, the Mahouts and Kavadis, who come from forest areas, should not be made to wait for food. He left the venue before the arrival of the other leaders.

Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah later arrived around 10 am and joined the breakfast gathering along with MLAs G.T. Devegowda and Anil Chikkamadu. The incident has led to discussions within Congress circles in Mysuru over punctuality and protocol during the Dasara festivities.

Dr. Yathindra clarifies

We have recently moved into a new house in Mysuru and household items were scattered in different places. My mother was not at home and there were no workers available. I had to make some arrangements before leaving, which caused the delay. I have already spoken to MLA Tanveer Sait over the phone about the matter. The delay was not deliberate and I have personally clarified this to him.

— Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Mysuru District Minister