Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 17: The state government has directed the presidents of all the academies in the state, barring Karnataka Madhyama Academy, to resign from their posts. It is learnt that the secretary in the department of Kannada and culture, Basavaraj, conveyed the above direction as per the instructions of the chief minister, Siddaramaiah. Kannada and culture department commissioner, K R Ramakrishna, who received the order on Saturday evening, passed on the same to the academy presidents, it is learnt.

Accordingly, Kasargod Chinna, president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, tendered his resignation to chief minister, Siddaramaiah, on Sunday June 16. He said that copies of his resignation letter have also been delivered to culture minister, Umashree, and K R Ramakrishna. Tulu Academy president, Umanath Kotian, had resigned at the time he fought assembly election from Moodbidri constituency on BJP ticket.

Basavaraj clarified that presidents of 13 academies have been asked to tender their resignations, and that the chief minister is yet to decide on the presidentship of Madhyama Academy.

Some prominent personalities have opined that the posts of presidents of academies should be occupied by people of prominence in the particular fields. They said being apolitical posts, these positions should be left untouched when the governments change.

But there are a few who view continuance or otherwise of the occupants of these posts as the right of the government and hence cannot be questioned. Veteran litterateur, Baragur Ramachandrappa, opined that the government is in order only in replacing presidents of Kannada Books Authority, Kannada Development Authority, Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi, and Chalanachitra Academy, as they are treated on par with posts of ministers.