CM seeks report, may initiate action against Chakrathirtha

Mangaluru/Bengaluru: With the textbook revision row simmering and threatening to vitiate the academic atmosphere, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday sought a report on the issue from primary and secondary education minister B C Nagesh, and said he will initiate action accordingly.
Minister Nagesh who met Adichunchanagiri seer Nirmalananda Swami after the latter demanded action against the culprits who purportedly distorted the state anthem penned by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, said that he will meet the CM and apprise him of the row with evidence.

On the demand to remove Rohith Chakrathirtha from the post of chairman of Karnataka Textbook Revision Committee over alleged affront to Kuvempu, the CM said he could take a call only after going through the report.
In an interview to TOI, Nagesh said that controversies are being raked up by “some sections that are unable to come out of the mindset of criticising BJP and PM Modi.
Taken aback by the widespread criticism, Chakratirtha issued a clarification and rejected allegations that he insulted Kuvempu and the Naadageethe, claiming the 2017 Facebook post which has been doing the rounds, was not his. “I have been reading Kuvempu’s works since I was a kid and have huge respect for him,” he added.
Meanwhile, cutting across ideologies, student organizations joined hands to protest the alleged saffronisation of textbooks, in the state capital on Tuesday. The organisations were supported by writer G Ramakrishna, who made his displeasure over the controversy clear by revoking consent to use his work in textbooks.
Five other writers too have written to the CM saying they want their lessons from the textbooks dropped.