“The concept of Yuva Dasara was initiated by me when I was a minister in the S.M.Krishna Cabinet in 2003-04. The idea behind was to encourage the budding talents and to introduce them to rich cultural heritage of the country. Students from almost all the universities across the nation participated in it and displayed their talents. The government arranged for their boarding and lodging in Mysuru.
But the subsequent governments and the ministers changed that concept and started spending money lavishly by inviting the artists from other parts of the country by paying them the big money. The agents also crept in as well as the commission business. The artists had to pay commission to get the chance to perform in this platform. From a few couple of lakhs, now the expenditure on Yuva Dasara has touched the whopping Rs 18.41 crore for the first time in the history of Dasara.
I will demand deputy commissioner to share details of Rs 18.41 crore spent on Yuva Dasara. It is the high time this event is scrapped in the interest of protecting the sanctity of the Nada Habba”
Former minister and MLC A.H.Vishwanath