Kinnera artist threatens to return Padma Shree over BJP 'using' him
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Telangana: Padma Shree winning Kinnera player Darshanam Mogulaiah has threatened to strip himself of the fourth highest civilian honour in protest against BJP's alleged attempt to use him for its political gains, according to The News Minute.
Darshanam Mogulaiah got in BJP's bad books for his 'unwavering support' to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and TRS legislator for Achampet, Guvvala Balaraju.
The fifth generation artist of his family said that BJP dragged him into a controversy, troubling his health.
Darshanam Mogulaiah, belonging to backward Dakkali community, plays the stringed instrument Kinnera made from bamboo and dry hollow pumpkins, according to report.
Mogulaiah reportedly said a BJP leader who had met him at the Achampet court on Wednesday, May 18, asked if the state government had given him the promised Rs 1 crore and a house site in Hyderabad.
In January, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced the grand in question after Mogulaiah had won Padma Shree.
The BJP leader reportedly told him that he would fight on behalf of Mogulaiah. The Kinnera player told the leader not speak against the Chief Minister but he would not listen and went on with critical comments, the report said.
Later Mogulaiah slammed the BJP leader on the phone fearing that TRS government would misinterpret the situation and he had the feeling of breaching the government's trust.
According to the report the conversation was then videographed by TRS activists for their own political propaganda.
Mogulaiah now fears if the BJP leader's intervention would deprive him of the government's offer of Rs 1 crore and the house site.
After Mogulaiah publicly hit out at the BJP leader, some BJP leaders hit back at him saying the BJP-led Central government had recognised him with the Padma Shree.
He was nevertheless grateful for the Centre government's recognition, Mogulaiah offered to return the award.
According to Mogulaiah if it hadn't been for KCR government's initial recognition of his talent, Padma Shree would not have been possible.
In 2014, when the Telangana state had just formed, the TRS-led state government had acknowledged the contribution of Mogulaiah, the report said.
Besides, the government is supporting him with a special pension of Rs 10,000 every month
