Activists want CFTRI director banished from State

The controversy surrounding the alleged anti-Kannada stand practiced by Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) director Ram Rajasekharan has resurfaced, with Kannada activists arriving on a consensus to demand the Central Government to banish him from the State.

Meeting

Members of various Kannada organisations and prominent persons who held a meeting on Friday at the office of Kannada Sahitya Parishat district unit, at the north gate of the Mysuru Palace, decided to petition the Central government, via the local Mysuru and Kodagu MP Prathap Simha,in this regard. They also demanded that the employees of CFTRI, also the members of Kannada Sahrudaya Balaga, a Kannada organisation on the institute campus, who have been suspended should reinstated within one week.

Earlier, Kannada activists noted that seven directors who had served CFTRI in the past, had strived for the development of Kannada and encouraged literary activities of the cultural body, Sahrudaya Balaga. Among the  past directors, two were from Tamil Nadu and had maintained a cordial relationship with Kannadiga colleagues.

The activists clarified that the criticism against Rajasekharan should not be misconstrued as ‘anti-Tamil’.

“We criticise the anti-Kannada stance of the director. Since, the director has refused to budge, despite repeated memoranda, he should be removed from office and transferred out of the State,” they demanded.

Suspension

The Kannada activists have also decided to hold demonstrations demanding that the suspended and transferred employees be reinstated. President and vice-president of the Balaga, Rangadhamaiah and Kempegowda respectively, and senior scientist Umesh Kumar have been suspended, while another employee Suresh Prasad has been transferred to Mumbai.

Activists alleged that the director has not provided any clarifications on his action.

Memorandum

They also decided to submit a memorandum to Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha. If the demands are not met, all Kannada organisations in the city will unite under a common banner and stage protests.

Socialist P Mallesh, convenor of Kannada Kriya Samithi Sa Ra Sudarshan, Corporator M V Ramprasad were prominent among others who took part in the meeting.

The relationship between Kannada organisations and Rajasekharan has been shaky ever since he allegedly refused to grant permission to Kannada Sahrudaya Balaga, to celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava on CFTRI campus. Following this, a group of Kannada activists attacked him in January last, when the latter arrived at Rani Bahadur Auditorium in Manasagangotri to attend a conference.