Mysuru: Minister for Higher Education Tanvir Sait has said that there was no pressure on anybody to purchase the book “Itta Guri-Ditta Hejje’ as it was completely left up to institutions to decide if they wanted to purchase the book or not.

Controversy was stoked after schools were reportedly directed to purchase the book on CM Siddaramaiah’s political life and achievements for their libraries by the Department of Education.

However, clarifying the same, the Minister, during his maiden visit to Mysuru on Friday said that on previous occasions the government institutions had purchased 821 books written by Kannada litterateurs and achievers. Setting that as the precedent, circular was sent to all government institutions to purchase this book.

“Since controversy erupted on the issue the government is not making book purchase compulsory but has left the issue to institutional discretion. If the institutions have surplus funds they can go ahead and buy the book,” he said.

During his maiden visit to the city after taking charge as education minister many supporters had gathered around the government guest house to meet him. Some of them wanted take selfies with him and were seen requesting him to oblige. When the minister readily agreed, the supporters were elated and later burst crackers after the welcome ceremony.