JOIN USHalemane said, Director of Kannada and Culture Department Manu Baligar had informed him over phone that the chief minister had approved his appointment. However, he had not received the official communication so far. According to Manu Baligar, the file has gone back to the chief minister. The appointment will be notified as soon as the CM returns it.
It is said that the Government is reconsidering his appointment in the wake of news reports stating that the police had suspected his contacts with the banned People’s War Group. The Sangha Parivar is also said to have raised objections to the appointment of Halemane, who identified with the Left ideology.
Halemane chose not to react to the news reports. He said he was not an aspirant for the post. But he agreed to take the responsibility after the Government announced his appointment. “The Government has announced my appointment. Now it is left to the Government to defend its stand. I do not worry even if it does not issue an order,” he said.
Ranga Samaja, an apex authority of the repertory, is also said to have expressed its disappointment with the CM’s decision to appoint Halemane. As per the procedure, the authority has to recommend names for the post and one of them would be finalised by the CM. But in this case, the CM, in his capacity as head of the Ranga Samaja, has taken the decision without taking the members into confidence.