Mangaluru: Kemaru Mutt seer Esha Vittala Dasa Swamiji has urged convener of the Kateel Yakshagana troupe, Kalladi Deviprasad Shetty to settle the issue pertaining to the alleged insult to veteran Yakshagana Bhagavatha Patla Sathish Shetty peacefully.
Addressing the protest meet organised by Patla Sathish Shetty’s fans at the Nehru Maidan, the Swamiji said, “Patla Sathish Shetty has been the voice of many poor Yakshagana artistes and he has never committed any mistakes. If at all mistakes have happened on both sides, it should be settled peacefully. The famous Yakshagana folk art should not be tarnished for one’s selfish motives,” he said.
SCDCC Bank Director Rajaram Bhat warned of intensifying the protest if Kalladi Deviprasad Shetty does not allow Patla Shetty to perform at the Kateel Mela. “Kalladi should apologise for his mistake publicly and re-enrol Patla in the Kateel Yakshagana troupe. If not, Patla’s fans will organise a mammoth protest again and fight until he gets justice,” he stressed.
Later, a memorandum, with various demands like allowing Patla to perform in the Kateel Yakshagana troupe again, an open apology, stringent action against the mismanagement of troupe and others, was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of the district.
Educationist Savanoor Seetharam Rai presided over the programme. Yakshagana Academy member Kadaba Dinesh Rai, Yakshagana artistes Radhakrishna Navada, Sanjay Kumar Shetty Gonibeedu, Raghavendra Mayya, Biruver Kudla member Sahana Kunder and others were present.