MANDYA: The high profile birthday celebrations of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises, Managing Director Ashok Kheny at Visvesvaraya stadium on October 4 has come under fire with activists of progressive organisations disrupting the preparations.
They have also pulled down publicity materials and have warned of boycotting the films of those stars participating in the event.
This comes close on the heels of Sachidananda, the president of the Ashok Kheny Fans Association, putting up posters and publicity materials with Kheny’s pictures in the city. Passes have also been issued for the musical nite by renowned playback singers on Sunday.
The activists belonged to progressive forums like Raitha Sangha, Sugarcane Growers Association and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.
They charged that Kheny had not contributed for the development of the Mandya district. Sugarcane Growers Association president Nagendra said that the birthday bash, with stars from tinsel town attending, would mislead the farming community.
Nagendra said that the farmers in Mandya district had lost 20,000 acres of land and were not ready to be victimised by Kheny any more.
It may be recalled that the farmers in Mandya had in the past opposed work on the proposed Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP).
Mandya West Police have arrested ten activists and have registered a compliant.