Leaders from the Janata Dal (Secular) party, including prominent legislators H.P. Swaroop and A. Manju, recently spearheaded a significant protest right at the main entrance of the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan. Their grievance centered on allegations that the district administration demonstrated a profound lack of respect towards Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy during his visit to the revered temple on Friday, October 17, 2025.
The protest saw MLAs and their staunch supporters gather en masse at the temple entrance. As they attempted to breach the barricades to enter the premises, police forces intervened to maintain order. The demonstrators vocally demanded that the Deputy Commissioner (DC) address their concerns directly at the protest site. Undeterred by adverse weather, they continued their demonstration even as rain began to fall.
H.P. Swaroop, the MLA for Hassan, articulated the core of their complaint, stating that during Minister Kumaraswamy’s temple visit, no officials from the district administration were present to formally welcome or receive the Union Minister. This perceived snub was a major point of contention.
Furthermore, Swaroop accused the district administration of failing to extend an invitation to him for the inauguration of the cultural events organized as part of the ongoing Hasanamba festival. He emphasized that as the local MLA, he should have been invited to preside over such a significant community program, yet he received no prior notification from the officials.
The revered Hasanamba Festival, which commenced on October 9, is scheduled to conclude on October 23. This annual event draws hundreds of thousands of devotees from across Karnataka and beyond to the temple. As per tradition, the temple will observe its closure on the final day of the festival.