Officer asked to step out after tussle over Kannada Bhavan administration

BELAGAVI: A woman officer was sent out of the venue of a programme which was to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai late on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred after friction between the administrative board of the Kannada Bhavan and the Kannada and Culture Department.

The CM on Tuesday evening inaugurated the Kannada Bhavan Ranga Mandira here. Prior to this, Kannada and Culture Department Deputy Director Vidyavathi Bhajantri and the Kannada Bhavan administrative board got into a verbal duel wherein board president Prabhakar Kore and other members took the officer to task.

Vidyavathi Bhajantri and Kannada Bhavan administrative board got into verbal duel wherein board president Prabhakar Kore and other members took the officer to task.

The officer had contended that the Kannada and Culture Department nameboard should be displayed at the Kannada Bhavan and that its management should be handed over to the department. Funds for the construction of the Kannada Bhavan were routed by the Kannada and Culture Department through the Border Areas Development Board and the remainder of the funds after hosting the World Kannada Sahitya Sammelan had also been given towards the construction.

However, Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil intervened in the argument and asked Vidyavathi to step out. The incident occurred before the CM could arrive at the venue.

Earlier, the administrative board had printed invitations for the inauguration in its name. However, the district administration noticed this and had got it changed.