Date:01/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/01/stories/2006050104400300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Very few turn up at valedictory function

Staff Correspondent

Members of different communities take part in procession

Belgaum: The valedictory of the five-day Basava Jayanti celebrations held here on Sunday evening turned out to be damp squib.

Social Welfare Minister Balchandra Jarkiholi and city MLA Ramesh L. Kudachi were conspicuous by their absence. Adding to the embarrassment of the organisers was the thin turnout for the event at the Lingayat Bhavan in Shivabasavanagar.

Joint celebration

The celebrations were organised jointly by the district administration, Department of Kannada and Culture and Basava Jayanti Utsav Samiti.

Those present on the occasion included Deputy Commissioner Shalini Rajneesh and samiti president Shankaranna Bijapure.

Organisers managed to rope in retired IAS officer B.V. Katti and former Mayor Siddangouda Patil at the last minute.

This was in sharp contrast to the four-hour-long procession, which registered a large turnout with people from different communities participating.