BJP seeks increased security at Mysuru palace, monitoring of migrant vendors

The BJP has sought the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or any national security agency at the Mysuru palace, expressing serious concern over what it called a deteriorating law and order situation in the city owing to a spate of crimes in the recent past.

Addressing a press conference on December 27, BJP Other Backward Class Morcha leader Raghu and city BJP president L. Nagendra flayed the district in-charge Minister H.C. Mahadevappa and the State government for “playing down’’ serious incidents, including the cylinder blast near the palace in which three persons died.

Stating that such incidents ‘’cast a shadow over Mysuru’s image’’, the BJP leaders said that the government was content with labelling these as ‘’unfortunate” or “accidental”, thus diluting the gravity of the situation. The cylinder explosion is not a mere ‘’unfortunate incident’’ but a warning bell for authorities to ramp up security, they added.

Besides, there is no regulation to the entry of Mysuru palace. It is time to reduce the footfall to ensure that only licenced vendors operate in the vicinity. Security should be beefed up by deploying CISF, said Mr. Nagendra and Mr. Raghu. Security arrangements are grossly inadequate not only at Mysuru palace but other tourist hotspots as well, they said.

Incidentally, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, expressed a contrarian view on the issue and termed the explosion as accidental, thus implying that it is not a reflection on the law and order situation in Mysuru.

Mr. Raghu and Mr. Nagendra criticised the district authorities, including the police, for not maintaining any information or data on the number of migrant vendors, their origin, and so on, saying that it amounted to an intelligence gap.

Calling for compensation to the families of those who died in the cylinder explosion, the BJP leaders criticised Mr. Mahadevappa for giving what they termed a “clean chit” even before a full probe could be launched.

Former mayor Shivakumar and others were present at the press conference.