Published Mar 25, 2026 | 12:01 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2026 | 12:01 PM
Karnataka Education Minister MC Sudhakar. (Facebook)
Synopsis: The Karnataka government cancelled a proposed three-day lecture series on the RSS ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay at Karnataka State Open University in Mysuru, citing violations of protocol and guidelines. Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar said that the government had not been informed about the event.
The Karnataka government cancelled a proposed three-day lecture series on the RSS ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay at Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in Mysuru, which was scheduled to be held from Wednesday, 25 March, citing violations of protocol and guidelines.
The event, ‘Ekatma Manav Darshan Bharat’s Worldview’, a three-day event commemorating 60 years of Deendayal Upadhyaya’s lectures, had been planned to be organised in collaboration with Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation and Prajna Pravah.
It was supposed to be inaugurated by Karnataka Governor and Chancellor of State Universities, Thaawarchand Gehlot, in the presence of Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji of Sutturu Math.
However, the event drew scrutiny after the university claimed that the programme was a private event despite the use of the university’s name and logo in the invitation letter.
Flagging a “serious breach of protocol,” the Higher Education Department noted that the Vice-Chancellor is presiding over the event and that permission was granted to a private organisation even as an inquiry into administrative and financial irregularities at the university is currently underway.
Defending the decision, State Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar told reporters on Tuesday, “Our public universities are meant to be apolitical. No political activities should be conducted in our universities.”
He also said that the government had not been informed about the event. “We cannot misuse university campuses for certain ideological events,” he said.
Sudhakar had also addressed the issue in the Legislative Council after Congress member Ramesh Babu raised it.
“What was the need to organise it? There is a protocol violation. There was no explanation as to how the event could help higher education. They have to postpone the programme. They cannot organise it in KSOU. He (Vice-Chancellor Sharanappa V Halase) has been asked to explain the reason. Action will be taken based on an inquiry,” the minister said.
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy.)
