Govt firm on NRN opening meet

BANGALORE: Notwithstanding objections raised by some writers and pro-Kannada organisations, the state government decided to go ahead with its original choice of Infosys Technologies chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy to inaugurate the World Kannada Meet in Belgaum from March 11-13.
"In consultation with chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, we decided not to replace Murthy since the decision to invite him was taken following a consensus among litterateurs, pro-Kannada leaders and organizers," agriculture minister Umesh V Katti, event chief organizer, told TOI on Wednesday.
Yeddyurappa will announce this on Thursday and seek everyone's cooperation in making the event a success. He'll also request people not to be provoked by the perceptions of some individuals.
Katti said the government had extended the invitation to Murthy considering it's a world event and it required a personality who can draw the attention of people across the globe. "I don't think there's any other Kannadiga who is as popular as Murthy. Also, it's a World Kannada Meet, not World Kannada literary meet to consider the demand of some writers that the event should be opened by a literary personality,"he added.
Lauding Murthy's contribution to IT, Katti said he has not only made Kannadigas proud but also put Karnataka on the world map. "We should really be proud of him and support him to reach greater heights,"he said
Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore, secretary, reception committee, said: "If Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan can do it for Marathi, why not N R Narayana Murthy and Aishwarya Rai for Kannada?''
He also took on litterateur Prof Baragur Ramachandrappa who first raised an objection, saying "He is getting personal against Murthy''. "There is no logic in his argument that only Kannada litterateurs are saviours of Kannada. We should give due respect to people who have made Karnataka's flag fly high abroad,"he added.