‘Removal’ of Ambedkar portrait by University of Mysore registrar angers Dalits​

MYSURU: University of Mysore (UoM) Registrar R Rajanna is in the eye of a storm after allegedly removing a portrait of Dr B R Ambedkar from his office chamber at Crawford Hall. However, Rajanna has denied the allegation.
About 20 workers of Dalit Students Forum who stormed into his chamber on Wednesday morning, shouted slogans against him for removing the portrait. They blocked Rajanna who was on his way to Regional Commissioner’s office for a meeting.
Rajanna told the protesters that the portrait was removed to dust it after which it was hung at the same place. The protesters, alleged that he has hung it back only after coming to know about the protest. The portrait was removed soon after he took charge after Prof C Basavaraju’s suspension a few days back, they alleged. The situation calmed down after the arrival of police.
 
Rajanna refused space for book release
Speaking to Express, Rajanna termed it as a ploy of vested interests who are unable to digest his rise to the registrar’s post. He said on Tuesday that some dalit organisations had approached him asking to provide Senate Bhavan or Rani Bahadur auditorium for the release of Harohalli Ravindra’s book ‘ABVP Bhayothpadane’ (ABVP terrorism). The book was to be released by Chief Minister’s media advisor Dinesh Ameen Mattu and Kannada Book Authority chairman Banjagere Jayaprakash.
He said since the issue is sensitive, he refused to allow them to hold it on the university premises. On the same day, he also lodged a complaint with Lakshmipuram police stating there is a possibility of the organisers forcibly holding the event on the campus and requested precautionary measures.