Mysuru:  Mysuru Rakshana Vedike (MR Vedike) has said that attempts are being made by some activists to stall Viveka Memorial in the city by staging protests in the name of saving NTM School.

Addressing a press meet at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here yesterday, Vedike President M.K. Premkumar wondered why these activists, who remained totally silent when Lakshmipuram Kannada School, Model Kannada School in Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry premises, Government School near Firewood Depot on Kotwal Ramaiah Street, the School near Mysuru Zoo in Ittigegud and many other Kannada schools were shut down, have chosen to be active now and stage protests in the name of saving NTM School on N.S. Road.

Maintaining that the then BJP Government in 2013 ordered handing over of the NTM School to Ramakrishna Mission for setting up Viveka Memorial, he said that following protests by various organisations, the Government instructed to merge the NTM School with nearby Devaraja Government School, which is located just 200 mts away from NTM School. Later Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama submitted the Government Order dated Jan. 9, 2013 handing over the NTM School to it, to the MCC and got the land registered in its name.

But in 2014, the then Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, responding to the pleas of Kannada activists, who opposed handing over of NTM School to RK Ashrama, gave oral instructions to the authorities not to vacate the NTM School. As Siddharamaiah did not want to go against the Governor’s instruction and also against the law, he gave only oral instruction, he said.

Continuing, he said that subsequent to Siddharamaiah Government’s decision, the Ramakrishna Mutt moved the High Court. The Court, upon scrutinising the documents, ordered the Government to hand over the NTM School land to RK Ashram.

Alleging that some vested interests were making attempts to stall handing over NTM School land to RK Ashram, he wondered where all these activists had gone when the Government School started by the erstwhile Mysore rulers was demolished recently. He asked the activists to stop protesting and instead support construction of Viveka Smaraka at the site.

Vedike office-bearer M.A. Mohan was also present at the press meet.