Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (KD / MB)

Mangalore, Jun 4: The stand taken by writer and Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Chandrashekhar Patil (‘ChamPa’)  on the introduction of English as a subject from First Standard was a mere publicity stunt, former Parishat president Harikrishna Punaroor has said.

In a press release, Punaroor has stressed that the Parishat ought to have sought the collective opinion of the members of  the members of the Parishat and not palmed off individual opinions as its stand. He added that Patil should have taken the district presidents into confidence before he could take a final decision in the matter.

He also pointed out the allegations of  misuse of funds against Patil during his tenure as the chairman of Kannada Development Authority, which had been taken note of by the state government. Punaroor also expressed his displeasure over the removal of his (Punaroor’s) from the books that were published during his tenure and reprinting under ChamPa’s creditline.  

Punaroor has expressed apprehensions if at all Patil would have election to the post of the new incumbent conducted once his tenure got over. He pointed out that he (Punaroor) himself had ensured that election was held when his term lapsed.

He has also urged the chief minister to look into all this matters and initiate action against him.