Samsthe claims ignorance on threat to artists

 
Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, Advisor to Sanathana Samsthe Vinodh Kamath said that their organisation neither had any branch at Udupi nor any office bearers.

Artists reiterated that those who threatened them have been identifying themselves with the religious organisation even before the incident. Besides they had distributed the bulletin of Sanathana Samsthe and given the website of the same, they added.

Meanwhile, Shiroor Mutt pontiff Sri Laxmivaratheertha Swamiji stressed the need for settling the issue amicably.

It may be recalled that after a group of activists who claimed to be from Sanatana Samsthe had opposed the exhibition titled ‘Eternal Ganesha’ at Fortune Inn Valley View, the artists had shifted their paintings to Dristi Art Gallery, for exhibiting. As the activists opposed exhibiting them even at the gallery, the paintings had been finally exhibited at Shiroor Mutt. The venue of another exhibition of paintings on Ganesha by the students of Chandra Kala Shaale had also been shifted to Shiroor Mutt.

Artists Purushothama Adve, Jayavanth and entrepreneur Purushothama Shetty attended the press meet.