HUBBALLI, BALLARI : Going lavish is not a new thing to Reddys of Ballari. When Gali Janardhana Reddy was a minister in the state BJP cabinet, he had claimed that he would heli-hop between his home in Ballari and Bengaluru for breakfast or lunch.
His house ‘Kuteera’ in Ballari has no match among any palatial bungalows in Karnataka. But this time, Janardhana Reddy has stunned all with a ‘box’ containing the wedding invitation of his daughter.
The invitation box opens to an LCD screen playing a song by Janardhana Reddy and his family inviting the viewers to his daughter’s marriage to be held at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on November 16. The box tied with silk ribbon contains dry fruits, turmeric and kunkum, a silk cloth and the marriage invitation.
The video has gone viral on social networking sites and got mixed reactions. The 2.28 minute video opens with title ‘Brahmani Weds Rajeev Reddy’ and Janardhana Reddy along with his family members welcome the guest while a song plays in the background ‘Mata Pitru Devo Bhava and Atithi Devo Bhava’.
The video song is shot professionally, and even stuns contemporary cinematographers. The video of the invitation is circulated widely on WhatsApp and Facebook.
The video has also made the viewers to guess the cost of the production of the video. It’s said each invitation box could have cost anywhere close to `10,000. Reddy is an accused in the illegal mining cases and is currently out on bail.
Though given bail, he was not allowed to enter Ballari till recently. However, the Supreme Court allowed him to enter Ballari as his daughter’s wedding preparation is going on between November 1 and 21.
Civic activist S R Hiremath reacted sharply to this development. He termed it as ‘vulgar display of ill-gotten wealth’.
“As the law only cannot act against such persons, the society should be aware about them and socially boycotting such person will be the only way to discourage such practices,” he said,“People should also introspect whether such people should be in public life,” he added.