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Yogiraj carved the idol of Ram Lalla and installed it in the newly built Ram temple in Ayodhya. (File photo: X/@yogiraj_arun)
Arun Yogiraj is scheduled to attend the 12th AKKA (American Kannada Kutas Association) World Kannada Conference to be held from August 30 to September 1 as the chief guest. three-day conference. He was also invited to attend another event organized by Sahyadri Kannada Sammelan
In a disappointing development for Indians in the US, renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who sculpted an installation in Ayodhya, has had his visa canceled on technical grounds Ram Lalla idol in the newly built Ram temple.
Yogiraj told News18: “The US consulate rejected my visa, gave me a note/slip and asked me to check online why the visa was rejected.”
The sculptor expressed disappointment at not being able to attend events or experience American art and culture. However, due to lack of time and difficulty in making another appointment, he does not plan to reapply for the visa.
Yogiraj is scheduled to attend the 12th AKKA (American Kannada Kutas Association) World Kannada Conference to be held from August 30 to September 1 as the chief guest. A three-day conference. He was also invited to attend another event organized by Sahyadri Kannada Sammelan.
“I was also awarded the annual Kannadiga Award by another Kannada group in the United States, but now I cannot participate,” he said.
Talking about visa rejection, Yogiraj mentioned that the process takes place within the consulate. He attended a visa interview but later received a rejection notice. He added that since the application fell under the urgent category, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was involved in facilitating the issuance of the visa, but it was still rejected.
He also noted that while he was “not disappointed,” he was looking forward to meeting fellow Indians in the United States and learning about the country's arts and culture.
Yogiraj said he was sure all his documents were in order and was confused as to why the visa was not approved. Interestingly, his wife Vijetha had earlier traveled to the United States, so his visa rejection came as a surprise to the family.
“We're not sure why we were denied, but we will follow due process,” Vietta said.
According to family members, the sole purpose of the trip was to attend a conference and the couple planned to return to India immediately after the event. “I don't know the reason for the rejection, but we submitted all the necessary documents related to the visa,” Yogiraj said.
The fifth-generation sculptor decided to quit his job as a human resources professional to pursue his family’s traditional career. He has previously sculpted the 12-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya enshrined at Kedarnath and the statue of Subhas Chandra Bose installed near the India Gate in the national capital.
