Karnataka   

Only invitees going for AKKA event, says Government

BANGALORE: In the face of mounting criticism from the public and the media against the Government’s reported decision to lead a large delegation and sponsor a huge of number of persons to the fifth biennial World Kannada conference of the Association of Kannada Kootas of America (AKKA) to be held from August 29 in Chicago, the Government asserted that it had not included anyone, who did not have formal invitation in its delegation.

In a release issued here on Monday, the Government had claimed that a delegation of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister B.S. Yeddurappa comprising Minister for Information and IT and BT Katta Subramanya Naidu, Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Development G. Janaradana Reddy and Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries Murgesh R. Nirani would be attending the conference.

Besides a 13-member official team, including the Chief Secretary, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary to the Department of Industries, Commissioner of the Department of Industries, Secretary to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Managing Director of Udyoga Mitra, Director of Kannada and Culture, the special officer and press secretary to the Chief Minister, the Director of Tourism and three officials, would be in the Chief Minister’s entourage, the release said.

The release said the Government had been utilising the opportunity to visit the U.S. not only as a matter of emotional response to Kannadigas living there but also to explore the avenues for the development of tourism and industry in the State.

“It is not the first time that the Government is participating in the event on the invitation as AKKA has been organising the Kannada conference for the past 10 years,” the release added.

The release said the Government would not meet the expenses of MLAs and MLCs and a set of industrialists visiting the U.S. on AKKA’s invitation. However, it would bear the travelling expenses of the Ministers, officials and 50 writers and artists and AKKA would take care of other expenses, it clarified.

According to sources close to AKKA here, invitations had been sent to only select persons from the respective fields. The number of its official invitees from the State had not exceeded 30. However, it had issued letters welcoming the participation of interested persons on their own. The letters were issued with an intention to help them get the visa. Any person interested in participating in the event as a guest delegate from the State had to register himself with an online fee of $ 175 (reduced).

It is surprising that the Government is sending 50 persons, who are said to be writers and artists. Participation of a total number of 2,600 delegates from different parts of the world.

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