Chennai: Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the chairman of world-renowned Kalakshetra, the seat of Bharatanatyam and other performing arts, resigned on Wednesday following the defeat of the UPA in the Lok Sabha elections. He has also quit as chairman of the Indian Institute of Advance Study at Shimla. Both the positions had been given to him by the UPA government.
Other similar government appointees such as Justice Leela Seth too resigned as the chairman of the advisory board to the National Library at Kolkata.
Mr Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and former Governor of West Bengal, said the resignations were “in keeping with the convention that is followed during a change of government”.
Conventions apart, Mr Gandhi’s continuation became untenable as he wrote an open letter in a newspaper a couple of days back saying he was among those who did not want to see Mr Modi as the Prime Minister.
“I mean and say that in utter sincerity, which is not very easy for me to summon, because I am not one of those who wanted to see you reach the high office that you have reached. You know better than anyone else, that while many millions are ecstatic that you will become Prime Minister, many more millions may, in fact, be disturbed, greatly disturbed by it”, wrote Mr Gandhi in that letter that drew sharp reactions from many.
Mr Gandhi told Mr Modi that his BJP had won power by the support of 31 per cent of the Indian voters who saw him as the country’s best guardian and saviour, but then 69 per cent did not see him as their rakhvala (protector). “Reassure the minorities, Mr Modi, do not patronise them”, said Mr Gandhi in his ‘open letter’ to the BJP’s PM-designate.
