A file image of Karnataka State Open University in Mysuru.
| Photo Credit: M A Sriram
Amid a brewing controversy over a three-day event at the State-run Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in Mysuru to mark 60 years of Hindutva ideologue and leader of Bharatiya Jana Sangh Deendayal Upadhyaya’s lectures, which was set to commence on March 25, the Karnataka government on Monday (March 23, 2026) said that the event cannot be held on the KSOU campus.
“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,” Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar told Legislative Council after Congress member Ramesh Babu raised the issue. “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.
“Ekatma Manav Darshan Bharat’s Worldview,” a three-day event commemorating 60 years of Deendayal Upadhyaya’s lectures on Ekatma Manav Darshan had been planned to be organised from March 25 at KSOU in collaboration with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation and Prajna Pravah.
Dr. Sudhakar said, “Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of (State-run) universities, have been invited. I did not even know about the event till Sunday (March 22) afternoon despite being Pro Chancellor (of KSOU). When I asked the Vice chancellor, he said he also did not know about the event, but his name is there in the reception committee.”
He said that government was also not informed about the event. “It is a private initiative. It was different if the venue is given on rent. But in this case, KSOU is seen sponsoring the event and providing the space.” Other invitees to the event included BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santosh, Editor of the RSS mouthpiece Organiser Weekly Prafulla Ketkar, VCs of Jawaharlal Nehru University Santishree D. Pandit and Gujarat University Neerja A. Gupta, Shatavadhani R. Ganesh, among others.
Earlier, raising the issue Congress member Ramesh Babu took exception to the event being held at KSOU that did not have any representation from the State government nor had any education expert attending it, which violated the protocol.
“KSOU is a State-run university and should work within the parameters set by the government. It has to organise events on educational and related activities. It is spending government money, but has not invited any one from the government.” He sought action against the Vice Chancellor for misusing his powers and furthering personal interest.
Published – March 23, 2026 05:14 pm IST
