BENGALURU: Minister for Textiles, Sugarcane Development and Directorate of Sugar and Agricultural Marketing, Shivanand Patil, found himself at the centre of a controversy after videos of him at an event where currency notes were being showered and strewn all over the floor went viral. A pile of notes is also seen at his feet, but the minister was unmoved.
In the videos, Shivanand Patil is seen seated as qawwali artists are performing while those present at the event shower currency notes on the artists and into the air. Currency notes are also seen strewn all across the floor. Minister Patil had been to Hyderabad three days ago to attend the wedding of his friend’s son where the event was organised.
Reacting to criticism, Shivanand Patil said, “I had gone to attend the wedding. If that is their culture, what can I do? I cannot stop them. If there is drought in Karnataka, shouldn’t marriages be conducted in Hyderabad? Is there a drought there?”
Defending Shivanand Patil, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who was in Belagavi, was dismissive about it saying that what was showered may not be currency notes at all. “It’s not currency notes, it must be some kind of fake paper notes”.