With the transfer issue of the Mysore Rangayana artistes getting murkier, the State government sacked its Director B.V. Rajaram.
A facsimile message signed by the Deputy Secretary to the Government, Department of Kannada, Culture and Information, K. Sudhakara Shetty, received at the Rangayana office here in this regard at 5.49 p.m. on Friday stated that Mr. Rajaram had been “relieved” of his post with immediate effect.
The order stated that Commissioner of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Bangalore, K.R. Ramakrishna, would hold charge of the post of the Director, Rangayana, Mysore, until further orders.
Meanwhile, artistes, who came to know of the issue, had gathered at the Rangayana, to protest against the order sacking Mr. Rajaram.
Mr. Rajaram had taken part in the protest staged by the artistes against their transfers from Rangayana here to Dharwad and Shimoga on Thursday.
Dharna
Meanwhile, artistes staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner condemning the sacking of Mr. Rajaram.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, through the Deputy Commissioner, the artistes alleged that they would condemn the sacking of Mr. Rajaram at a time when the election model code of conduct was in force. The transfer orders must be withdrawn immediately, they demanded. On the other hand, steps should be initiated to strengthen the activities of Rangayana here by maintaining its autonomy. The artistes have also demanded the immediate transfer of Rangayana Deputy Director Nirmala Matapathi accusing her of acting against the interests of Mysore Rangayana.
