Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Mangaluru, Nov 19 (IANS) Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Chairman, Purushottam Bilimale has sparked a major political and cultural controversy in Karnataka with his remarks that several eminent Yakshagana artistes are gay, drawing sharp condemnation from the state opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
BJP state president and MLA BY Vijayendra immediately came out against Bilimale and termed his remarks as “disgraceful” and demanded prompt intervention of the state government on the matter besides his immediate removal from the post.
Vijayendra said, “This statement is an insult not only to the Yakshagana artistes and the coastal region, but to the entire Hindu community.” He said the remarks “reflect the mentality of the Congress party.”
Yakshagana is a traditional dance-drama art form of Karnataka that combines music, dance, vivid costumes and rhythmic movements to tell stories from the Hindu epics.
Speaking at the launch of the books “Dharge Doddavara Kavyada Elu Pathyagalu” and “Naavu Kooguva Koogu” in Mysuru on Tuesday, Billimale said many Yakshagana artistes were attracted towards homosexual relationships. He claimed that conditions within the congregation had contributed to this.
He explained, “Since the artistes travel continuously for six to eight months, families were often unwilling to marry their daughters to them. Male artistes playing female roles also had to face stress. In this setting, he said, the artistes developed attraction towards each other.”
Bilimale alleged that on several occasions, if a male artiste playing a female role rejected a same-sex offer, the ‘Bhagwat’ (lead singer), would reject his verses the next day, making it a form of on-stage retaliation.
The KDA chief said some artistes were worried that losing roles in the troupe would leave them without livelihood, so they faced immense pressure.
Demanding action against Bilimale, Vijayendra urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to “immediately remove the Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority” if the Congress-led government has any respect for local art, tradition and culture.
He called upon the entire Hindu community to rise above the party line and protest against the statement of the KDA chief.
Speaking on other issues in Mangaluru’s Puttur town on Wednesday, Vijayendra told the media that “governance in the state has completely collapsed” amid growing competition for the chief minister’s chair within the ruling Congress.
He announced that the BJP would launch agitation both inside and outside the Assembly against the “corrupt and anti-people” government, which he claimed had failed to fulfill its promises, leaving voters feeling cheated.
–IANS
MKA/SNJ/SKP