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Karnataka sees motives behind home ministry not returning Mysore palace bill

The Karnataka government today charged the Union home ministry with triggering off a constitutional crisis by not returning to the state the Mysore Palace (acquisition and transfer bill) 1998, which had received presidential assent some two months ago.

Law Minister M C Nanaiah told the media, after the cabinet meeting in Bangalore today, that the Centre's decision to withhold the bill was an "affront" on the Constitution. "Sitting over the issue would amount to questioning the President's judgement," he added.

He and Chief Minister J H Patel would meet the President in New Delhi tomorrow to discuss the issue, as a contempt case was coming up before the Karnataka high court regarding the handing over of the palace to the scion of Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narashima Wodeyar. They would also submit a letter to the President on the issue, he added.

The bill, passed by both the houses of the Karnataka legislature, provided for take-over of the Mysore palace and other artefacts by paying inter alia compensation of Rs 320 million to Wodeyar.

Claiming that some politicians were getting the issue delayed, he said, "There is something deeper than what I see."

He claimed that the President's secretary had informed the state chief secretary over phone that the Rashtrapati Bhavan had cleared the bill. They would be meeting Home Minister L K Advani also on the issue.

He said the Centre should spell out what its intentions were.

UNI

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