Minister apologises for declaring artist dead

MUMBAI, MARCH 24: Minister of State for Information and Public Relations, Anil Deshmukh, on Friday, tendered an apology in the Legislative...

MUMBAI, MARCH 24: Minister of State for Information and Public Relations, Anil Deshmukh, on Friday, tendered an apology in the Legislative Assembly on behalf of the government for declaring a living artist dead.

The issue was raised in the House by Leader of the Opposition Narayan Rane, who pointed out that while publishing a picture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the government calender for the year 2000, the name of the artist Kalayogi G Kamble had been mentioned as ‘Kailaswasi’ Kalayogi G Kamble presuming that the artist was dead.

Rane said that the artist had written a letter to the government stating that he was very much alive and kicking. Rane lambasted the government for the lapse and pointed out that even three months after the calender had been circulated, the government had no idea of the faux pas till the artist wrote the letter.

Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Salokhe, who had come in the house wearing a black kurta, said that the artist had given the picture to the state government free of charge and it was a cruel of the latter to declare him dead.

Speaker of the Assembly Arun Gujarathi then asked the government to make a statement on the issue and accordingly, Anil Deshmukh apologised for the lapse.