Informing this to media here at Varnotsava, a painting exhibition on Saturday, he said that he is doing it with a view to maintain transparency on his part and not “with any impudence to suppress anybody’s feelings” and informed that the award ceremony which was to be held at Dharmasthala on February 23 was postponed for reasons unknown.
“I received a letter from the Academy that the function is going to be held at Kannada Bhavan on March 23.
The letter however reveals that the number of awardees has risen to 55 from the original 28 artists selected. This indicates that the academy is functioning under pressure and at the behest of the powers that be,” Mr Rao accused.
He also said that the decision to increase the number is ridiculous that amounts to breach of propriety and sanctity of the original list that have been already announced.
