Arun Yogiraj, the sculptor from Karnataka's Mysuru who will sculpt the idol of Lord Ram at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, has been denied a visa by the US. He was to travel to the US for a three-day conference in Virginia. The 12th World Kannada Conference will be held in the United States from August 30 to September 1. Arun Yogiraj was also present at the meeting. However, Yogiraj's family has expressed displeasure over the denial of his visa.
Speaking to the media, Arun Yogiraj said, "We had provided all the documents required to get the visa. However, the reason for the cancellation has not been revealed yet. Arun Yogiraj's wife Vijetha has already visited the US. There was no problem then, it is being wondered why the visa was cancelled just now.
Yogiraj's family said that Arun and his wife were going to the US only for this conference. He will return to India after the summit. Yogiraj also expressed surprise after the visa was denied.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Kannada Parishad had invited Arun Yogiraj as the chief guest. In the invitation card, the council said, "You have made an exceptional contribution to the construction of the statue. Your artistic vision will take this conference to a higher level. Your work brings to life the spirit of creativity and innovation, which is in close alignment with the purpose of our conference.
Who is Arun Yogiraj?
Arun Yogiraj hails from Mysore in Karnataka. His family are sculptors. Because for the last five generations, there was work to make idols in their homes. Arun Yogiraj is considered to be one of the most iconic sculptors not only in Karnataka but also across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too paid tributes on the occasion. Arun has inherited the legacy of making idols from his own home.
Arun Yogiraj has also made a 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath. He also unveiled a statue of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Mysore. He has also created a 14-foot statue of the King of Mysore. A 21-foot statue of Lord Hanuman has also been installed in the temple. He also unveiled a 15-foot statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. His art has spread all over the country. He is one of the country's best known sculptors and sculptors.
