Bangalore: Bunts' Sangha Golden Jubilee Sans the Glitter
- Bollywood's Mangalorean brigade Ash, Shilpa and Suil turn down Bunt Sangha's invitation.
- Don Muthappa Rai wants to attend, but organisers keep him out.
Bangalore, Jun 7: A splashy community celebration of the Bunts in Bangalore has lost its sheen because of the absence of Bollywood stars.
Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty and Sunil Shetty have reportedly turned down invitations to the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bunt Sangha. But ‘reformed don Muthappa Rai, a Bunt who wants to be at the event, hasn’t been invited.
“We had sent invitations to Aishwarya, Shilpa and Sunil. But they replied that they were busy,” said Harish Kumar Shetty, president, Bunt Sangha, Bangalore.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Minister Dr VS Acharya, Dr D Veerendra Hegde, Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde and Bunts Sangha Bangalore President N Harish Kumar Shetty at Golden Jubilee Celebration of Sangha at Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Saturday.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa inaugurates golden jubilee celebration of Bunts Sangha at Bangalore. NRI Businessman BR Shetty, Dr Veerendra Hegde, Dr VS Acharya, Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde and Sangha President Harish Kumar Shetty are seen.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa being greeted by the members of the Bunts Sangha Bangalore.
Folk Artists perform during the golden jubilee celebration of Bunts Sangha, Bangalore
The invitations to the event, which is being held on saturday and sunday, were sent out to the Bunt film stars as early as March.
“They turned down the invitations at the last minute. We are disappointed that they are not a part of an event which is special to the community,” Harish added.
What about the invitation to Muthappa Rai? “His name never came to mind. We didn’t even discuss it. We have not invited him,” the Bunt Sangha president said.
But Rai insisted that he had been invited to the celebrations. “I am a member of the Bunt Sangha. They have sent me an invitation, but I’m not going. I’m busy with my party work,” he said.
Sources revealed that Muthappa Rai had not been invited because the organisers did not want to embarrass dignitaries such as Dharmasthala dharmadikari Dr Veerendra Hegde, Lokayukta chief Santosh Hegde, and Balangangadharnatha Swamiji, who have confirmed their participation in the golden jubilee celebrations.