KRS is a gravity dam below the confluence of the river Kaveri and its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the district of Mandya. Its construction began in 1911, well over 100 years after Tipu was killed while defending his capital Srirangapatna against a combined Maratha-English sepoy army during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799.
Published Aug 04, 2025 | 6:47 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 04, 2025 | 6:47 PM
Mahadevappa claimed that the foundation stone for the reservoir, laid by Tipu Sultan, can be found at its entrance.
Synopsis: The BJP in Karnataka on Monday criticised Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa for claiming that the foundation stone for the Krishnaraja Sagar dam in Mandya district was laid by 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan, despite the dam’s construction having begun in 1911. BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka and State President BY Vijayendra, accused the Congress leader of distorting history, insulting the Mysore royal family, and engaging in appeasement politics.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Monday launched a scathing attack against Minister for Social Welfare HC Mahadevappa over his claims that the foundation stone for the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam across the river Kaveri in Mandya district was laid by the 18th-century ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan in Srirangapatna on Sunday, 3 August, Mahadevappa claimed that the foundation stone for the reservoir, laid by Tipu Sultan, can be found at its entrance.
Sunday also marked the death anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the most celebrated rulers of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore from the Wadiyar family, who is widely credited with initiating and funding the dam’s construction.
KRS is a gravity dam below the confluence of the river Kaveri and its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the district of Mandya. Its construction began in 1911, well over 100 years after Tipu was killed while defending his capital Srirangapatna against a combined Maratha-English sepoy army during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799.
The dam was built following the devastating famines that had led to mass migration from the Mysore and Mandya regions in the 1870s, with the famine of 1875–76 in particular wiping out an estimated one-fifth of the Kingdom of Mysore’s population.
In response to Mahadevappa’s remarks, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka termed it an attempt at “historical distortion” and “appeasement politics taken to a dangerous new low.”
“[It] is not only laughably false, but also a disgraceful insult to the legacy of Rajarshi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and the Mysore royal family,” he wrote in a post on X on Monday.
Ashoka pointed to the century long gap between Tipu’s death and the dam’s construction and the role of the Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar family in financing the dam.
“Yet, Congress leaders continue their systematic campaign to undermine his legacy… This is not about history, it is about appeasement politics, plain and dangerous. It is an attempt to erase Karnataka’s proud heritage and rewrite it to suit Congress’s communal narrative.
“BJP Karnataka will fight this toxic appeasement politics with truth and with pride. We will defend the honour of Rajarshi Nalwadi Wadiyar. Enough is enough.”
BJP State President BY Vijayendra similarly alleged deliberate attempts to insult the Mysore royal family.
ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಜಸಾಗರ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಅಡಿಗಲ್ಲು ಹಾಕಿದ್ದು ಟಿಪ್ಪು ಸುಲ್ತಾನ್ ಎಂದು ಸಚಿವ @CMahadevappa ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರಿಗೆ, ಸಚಿವ ಮಹದೇವಪ್ಪನವರಿಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ಸಿಗರಿಗೆ ಮೈಸೂರು ರಾಜ ಮನೆತನವನ್ನು ಅಪಮಾನ ಮಾಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಏನು ಸಂತೋಷವಿದೆಯೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ಹೆಚ್.ಸಿ. ಮಹದೇವಪ್ಪನವರು… pic.twitter.com/IvOqg8mFTH
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) August 4, 2025
“It is unclear what satisfaction the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister Mahadevappa, and Congress members derive from insulting the Mysore royal family,” he wrote in a post on X.
“As a senior and responsible minister, HC Mahadevappa is engaging in the act of distorting history, misleading people, and aiming to appease the Muslim community in every matter. He repeatedly targets the Maharajas. Mahadevappa’s statements in this manner are an unforgivable offence.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
