Mahouts threaten boycott Dasara procession

Mysore, Sep 1 (UNI) In protest against non-implementation of their long pending demands including regularisation of service, the Mahouts of royal elephants during the world famous Dasara Procession in Mysore have decided to boycott the procession this year.

In a press note issued here today, Mr J K Mani of Bharatiya Girijana Shikshana Samsthe, said that the Mahouts have decided to boycott the Dasara Procession and not to ride the elephants which carry the Golden Howdah the main attraction of the Dasara Procession.

Mr Mani also stated that despite several appeals made to regularaise the services of Mahouts the state government has failed to respond positively. The Mahouts as part of their protest have also decided to stay away even from the Gajapayana which marks the beginning of the preparations of the Dasara Procession. The Mahouts also decided to register their protest during the visit of Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to Hunsur, scheduled on Monday.

Reacting to the decision of the Mahouts the District Incharge Minister G T Deve Gowda said that he would take up the issue with Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and sort out the issue.

UNI