Controversial Island Festival - Raghupathi Bhat accuses Congress of sullying his name

Controversial Island Festival - Raghupathi Bhat accuses Congress of sullying his name

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi , Feb 11, 2012 : Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has declared that he has nothing to do with the Spring Zouk Island Festival 2012 held recently on St. Mary’s Island. Addressing reporters at a press conference held on Feb 10 Friday, he accused the Congress party of attempting to wreck his reputation by associating him with the Island Festival controversy.

 

Stating that he has nothing against the protest organized by the Congress party, he said that he only objects to the Congress linking his name to the event. He said that he had just attended the inauguration ceremony of the Island Festival as one of its guests just as Pramod Madhwaraj of the Congress party had also attended on invitation. Certain journalists accompanying him pointed out that foreign tourists were behaving in a very indecent and promiscuous manner, he said, adding that, when they (the DC and Raghupathi Bhat) came to know about it, they did everything in their power to put things right.

Claiming that Pramod Madhwaraj has made a baseless allegation that he had received money from the organizers of the Island Festival, Bhat said that Pramod Madhwaraj, who had become the president of the anti UPCL movement, has suddenly lost interest in it. Demanding to know the reason for Madwaraj’s lack of interest, he alleged that the UPCL has provided certain benefits to Madhwaraj in exchange for his silence.

Agreeing that the head of the company that organized the show was his classmate, he pointed out he was also Madharaj’s classmate. He informed that the organizers were instructed to stick to certain terms and conditions at a preliminary meeting held before the Island Festival. If the organizers have violated these rules, action will be taken against them after first checking the video footage of the festival. Eight CCTV cameras were installed on the island, he added.

Claiming that he spent just 10 minutes at the venue, he said that he observed people cleaning the beach and performing Yogasanas during that time. Admitting that certain young people might have misbehaved, he said that he has organized several events such as the Akhil Bharat Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, Udupi Utsav, Shrinivas Kalyanotsav, Beach Utsav, and others and that he is deeply concerned about developing St. Mary’s Island as a tourist hotspot. He also revealed his intention to organize an event entirely illustrating Indian culture in the near future.

Stating that the organizers’ intention in organizing the festival was good, he said that it was more experimental in nature. If the event had gone against Indian culture, such events will no longer be organized, he declared.

He also admitted that the district administration had decided not to organize any such events when they observed foreigners behaving in an objectionable manner on the first day. Rubbishing all allegations of receiving money from the organizers, he said that he had spent his own money on food for the folk dance troupes.

He also revealed that the DC has directed the organizers to provide detailed accounts of the event.