Members of the Indian Society for Cultural Co-operation and Friendship, led by former legislator K. Subba Raju, demanded reduction in the rent for the renovated Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram, and staged a dharna on the auditorium premises on Tuesday.
The members said the swanky hall, which was spruced up for the benefit of the local artistes to exhibit their talent, was not within their reach owing to the high rent. “Presently the hall management is collecting ₹70,000 per day, which is very high,” Mr. Subba Raju said. It should be ₹3,000.
He said during the Left rule, the rent which was ₹5,000 was reduced to ₹1,000 for half day and ₹1,500 for full day.
Mr. Subba Raju said while the Hyderabad-based Ravindra Bharathi was available at a nominal rent, Tummalapalli Kalakshetram was not within the reach of cultural associations.
The hall is empty on many days without any programme. “During the Left rule, it witnessed at least three or four programmes per week.”
Veteran Janapada exponent Karnati Lakshmi Narasaiah, ISCCF members Dogiparti Sankar, M. Ramana and Ganapathi Rao and others took part in the protest.