Tuesday, April 26 2005 21:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The spate of resignations in the Sangeet Natak Academy continued today (Apr 26, 2005) with six more members quitting in protest against chairperson Sonal Mansingh even as Culture Minister S Jaal Reddy said that these would not be accepted till a final view is taken on the issue.

The five artistes, who resigned from the cultural organisation's General Council, are Hindustani vocalist Ajoy Chakraborty, Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Academy chairman Kamal Tiwari, his predecessor G S Channy, Chennai-based theatre artist B Jayasree and Parvesh Sethi, Academy sources said.

Manipuri artiste Savitri Heisnam, who had earlier offered to quit, has resigned from the Executive Board of the Academy, sources said, adding the resignations have been sent to Reddy.

Meanwhile, Reddy, who has received representations from both Mansingh and from the artistes opposed to her, said he was currently studying the matter.

"We are studying the matter, and nothing concrete can be said now," Reddy said.

Asked whether the Ministry had accepted the resignations, he replied in the negative. "No resignations have been accepted as the matter is under consideration."

Yesterday (Apr 25, 2005), Hyderabad-based musician N Satyanarayana had sent his resignation letter to the Minister.

Earlier, Government nominees from the Academy Executive Committee Balamuralikrishna and its vice chairman Kavalam Narayana Panicker had resigned protesting the "autocratic and undemocratic" functioning of dansuese Mansingh.