Saturday, April 30 2005 20:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stepping up their campaign for ousting Sangeet Natak Academy chairperson Sonal Mansingh, three more General Council members, including one State Government representative, resigned today (Apr 30, 2005) bringing the total number of those quitting to 12.

The artists who sent their resignation letters to Culture Minister S Jaipal Reddy were Himachal Pradesh Government representative and noted folk artist Nandlal Garg, former Bihar Sangeet Natak Academy chairman and musicologist Gajendra Narain Singh and Mumbai-based theatre artist, Nadira Babbar.

Those artists who have resigned from the General Council, comprising 68 members, are protesting against the alleged "autocratic and undemocratic" style of functioning of Mansingh.

Meanwhile, Mansingh said that all the resignations, except Balamuralikrishna's, have "no validity", as the procedure demands the routing of resignation letters through the chairman.

Gajendra Narain Singh, who was nominated to the Academy under rule 4(9), which permits the Chairperson to nominate "eminent" artists, said that his resignation was "conditional."

Accusing Mansingh of favouritism, Singh said, "She lacks the temperament of an artist and I do not wish to continue in Academy under the stewardship of Mansingh. If she is removed I am ready to withdraw my resignation."

Nadira Babbar, in her resignation letter to the Minister, demanded dissolving the Academy General Council and institute a high-level probe into alleged "all irregularities including financial, administrative and artistic activities."