BU staff want 5 more statues on campus

Witnessing a bitter turmoil over the installation of Saraswati and Buddha idols at the Jnanabharathi campus a few days ago, the Bangalore University found itself in the middle of a fresh controversy on Monday. Now, the BU Minority, Other Backward and General Community Employees Forum has demanded the installation of statues of five other social reformers.

Following the decision taken by the university to install both the Saraswati and Buddha idols, the employees union has demanded the installation of the idols of social reformers like Basavanna, Kanakadasa, Santa Shishunala Sharif, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and Mahatma Gandhi. Going a step further, the union has said the new idols have to be of the same size, weight, cost and material as the Saraswati and Buddha idols.

The office-bearers on Monday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, requesting him to issue directions to the university vice-chancellor to take necessary measures to install the idols.

Reacting to the development, V-C Prof KR Venugopal said: “I cannot take decisions on such matters. I will place it before the syndicate.”