Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Feb 22: "Despite widespread praise for Rani Abbakka from politicians, including the Prime Minister and local MLAs, support for our cause named after her is lacking," lamented the Veera Rani Abbakka Utsav committee at a press conference on February 22.

Speaking to the media, the organiser of the event Dinakar said, "We do not get any cooperation from the government for celebrating Abbakka Utsava, although the Prime Minister and all the ministers hail Abbakka but when it comes to action no one stands still. Every year we ask the government and for the past 3 years we did not get any support from the government and the money allocated for us is still in the district commissioner office and they denied giving us the money. The deputy commissioner is not at all supporting us and we started asking the government for funds in 2008 and we were issued Rs 25 lac and that was given to us till 2020 and the money went to Rs 30 lac and the last money received by us was in 2019."

When questioned about their sentiments regarding Abbakka's current popularity, Jay Ram Shetty expressed, "We feel sad that the government doesn't care. Even the Abbakka Bhavan, which was promised to be constructed, was not completed and left abandoned. All the ministers praise Abbakka when they come here, but nobody helps us. The construction of Abbakka Bhavan began in 2011, and now everything is wiped out. If funds are allocated to us, we will ensure to construct a bigger and beautiful building with the help of crowd-funding."

Dinkar, Jay Ram Shetty, Sadananda Bangera, Devaki and other members of Veera Rani Abbakka Utsava committee were present.