Writer, actor write to CM, minister

Bengaluru: Kannada writer Na D'souza and actor LV Sharadha Rao on Friday came out in support of the Venkatappa Art Gallery (VAG) forum that wants the government to revoke its decision to hand over the gallery to a private firm.
D'souza and Rao have written to CM Siddaramaiah and Kannada and culture minister Umashree respectively expressing concern over the issue and the government's apparent apathy.
In his letter (written in Kannada) to Siddaramaiah, D'souza said it's extremely humiliating to see the government insulting the artist community by not honouring the gallery the way it should be. D'souza said they have been orphaned by all, including Venkatappa himself, whose works recognized by the government in 1970 resulted in the birth of the Venkatappa Art Gallery. The writer wished to know if there was any guarantee that the government wouldn't let out institutions like Ravindra Kalakshetra and Visvesvaraya Museum for adoption in future. Stating that families of Venkatappa and artist KK Hebbar had donated works for the gallery, D'souza asked how would the government justify its stand to these families.
Writing to Kannada and culture minister Umashree, actor LV Sharadha Rao expressed shock over the government's decision to hand over VAG to a private foundation. "Being an artist yourself, you should be able to understand the anguish of artists. I urge you to put your foot down, take a stand and support artists as the minister of Kannada and culture, as a member of the ruling party and more so as an artist... What use is your political career if you cannot fight for your own tribe when injustice is being done to them?... Make a difference when you can, your political position is not permanent but art and artists' support are."