A representation of farmers and members of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha on Wednesday demanded that Bangalore University install a statue of the late rural activist M.D. Nanjundaswamy, who was the Sangha’s founding president.
This demand comes after varsity officials pacified groups of students by deciding to have statues of goddess Saraswati and Buddha next to each other.
“Along with the Saraswati and Buddha statues, we request the university to install Prof. M.D. Nanjundaswamy’s statue. He fought for farmers’ issues in the State. His statue will infuse interest among students in agriculture,” said a representation from the KRRS.
Earlier this week, the Bengaluru Vishwa Vidyalayada Alpasankyta Hindulida Mattu Samanya Vargada Naukarara Vedike wrote to the Chief Minister requesting him to direct the officials concerned to install statues of Kanakadasa, Basaveshwara, Shishunala Sharif, Kempe Gowda and Mahatma Gandhi in the Jnanabharathi campus.
The statue controversy began when a section of students and faculty members installed a statue of Buddha at the spot that was designated for a Saraswati statue. The original idol accidentally broke last year. While a new idol was being commissioned, students and professors installed the Buddha statue without the permission of the vice-chancellor.
Bangalore University officials said that the latest request for a statue would be placed at the syndicate meeting for discussion.
