Mysore:CM Siddaramaiah made the offering to river Cauvery at KRS dam but his wife Parvathiwho had earlier skipped his oath-taking ceremony was absent this time too.
According to a noted astrologer, any auspicious spiritual ritual, be it Yaaga, Lagna or Baagina to the river, should be conducted by the wife along with her husband. Kings of Mysore and past CMs offered Baagina with their wives barring exceptional cases where the CM did not have a wife—for example former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Addressing the media persons, after offering Bhagina at KRS dam, CM Siddaramaiah said that majority of irrigation dams all over the state are full owing to better rains this year. Meanwhile, he expressed happiness over the good rains and dams full up to the capacity that would solve the drinking water woes across the state, electricity shortage and water row with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
The state minister housing and Mandya district-in-charge minister Ambarish, co-operative minister Mahadevaprasad, irrigation minister M B Patil, revenue minister V Srinivas Prasad, public works minister Mahadevappa, MLA P M Narendraswamy, K S Puttannayya, Babu Bandisidde Gowda, N Chaluvarayaswamy, K C Narayan Gowda, B Ramakrishna, D C Tammanna and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Interestingly, none of the ministers who accompanied the CM, brought their wives along with them to offer Baagina!
Baagina is a sacred offering to the river goddess as a thanksgiving gesture for bountiful rains.
Raita Sangh, Dalit Sangrash Samiti (DSS) protests:
The members of Raita Sangh staged protest led by MLA K S Puttannayya, as CM Siddaramaiah was coming out after offering Bhagina at KRS dam, urging the state authorities to fix scientific price to sugarcane.
DSS activists led by state convener M B Srinivas also staged protest, urging the state authorities to fulfill their various demands.
Meanwhile, as per the protocol, CM Siddaramaiah did not accept any memorandum from the agitator.
