The State Government has cancelled nomination of president and members to Karnataka Urdu Academy, made in 2008. The government notification issued on Wednesday does not cite the reason for the cancellation. The director of Kannada and Culture had been appointed in-charge of the academy till fresh nominations are made. It is learnt that the government is upset with the academy’s decision to conduct World Urdu Conference between December 24 and 27 at Palace Grounds in Bangalore, without obtaining permission from the government.
The academy chairman had met the Prime Minister to invite him for the conference and sought release of funds for the conference from many Union Ministers and heads of several States. The academy had, in association with several organisations, constituted an executive committee involving many politicians to conduct the conference.
The academy had also spent about Rs four lakh towards booking the venue in Palace Grounds and a preliminary meeting in a star hotel in Bangalore. Rahman was convener of the committee and had accepted about Rs 10 lakh as donations towards souvenir.
Besides, the Jammu and Kashmir government had contributed Rs five lakh as its contribution to the conference, while an organisation in Chennai sent in Rs 2.5 lakh. The Minister had told the media that the chairman had over-ruled the Chief Minister, in meeting the Prime Minister and others at the Centre seeking funds.
Reacting to the minister’s statement, Rahman said he had written to the Chief Minister on July 21, 2010 informing him about the world conference and seeking release of funds about Rs three crore for the event. But there had been no response. Similarly, he had conveyed the information to the concerned minister Govind Karjol.
Rahman said that over 200 delegates from different parts of the world had been invited for the conference. He would continue as convener of the executive committee and would make efforts to hold the conference as per schedule. However, there would no role for the Academy. “The Centre is expected to release about Rs 50 lakh for the event. If we fail to mobilise funds, the committee will cancel the event and inform the delegates accordingly,” he said.