by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Bangalore, May 5: The fact that a vow announced by H.D. Deve Gowda, JD(S) supremo, a few years ago that he would give an elephant to a temple as a gift is yet to be fulfilled, came to light during last week's Janata Darshan of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

The question now is whether Deve Gowda can fulfill his 'elephantine' vow.

The Chief Minister has assured that he would gift an elephant calf on behalf of his father. However, that seems not possible according to rules. The vow taken by Deve Gowda will remain only as a vow. Gifting of elephants has been banned under the Government Order 223 FTWL 99.

The order banning elephants as gifts or as charity to religious institutions, private individuals and others has been issued on June 28, 2000 itself.

Deve Gowda had taken a vow during his visit to the famous Maha Ganapathi Temple here at the time of his contesting the election to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996, that he would gift an elephant to the temple if his party was voted to power.

Chikkanna of Thyagaraja City Youths Association here had embarrassed the Chief Minister during the Janata Darshan in his Home Office Krishna last week by submitting a memorandum to him reminding his father's vow.

"The promised elephant has not been given to the temple although many years have passed. At least, you fulfil the vow of your father," Chikkanna said in his memorandum to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister just replied, "Okay, I will gift an elephant."

It cannot be gainsaid if the Chief Minister gave the assurance just to get himself out of a predicament or to avoid a certain headache that cropped up all of a sudden.

However, given the rules, even the Chief Minister-son cannot fulfil his father's vow!