‘Was to Be Conferred Kannadiga of The Year Award’: Ram Lalla Idol Sculptor Yogiraj Denied US Visa, Speaks with News18 – News18

In a disappointing development for Indians in America, renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, the man who carved the Ram Lalla idol installed at the newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya, had his visa cancelled on technical grounds.

“The US consulate rejected my visa, gave me a note/slip, and told me to check online as to why the visa was rejected,” Yogiraj told News18.

The sculptor expressed his disappointment at not being able to participate in the events or experience the art and culture of the United States. However, he does not plan to reapply for the visa due to a lack of time and the difficulty in securing another appointment.

Yogiraj was scheduled to be the chief guest at the 12th AKKA (Association of Kannada Kootas of America) World Kannada Conference, set to take place from August 30 to September 1. He was to attend the three-day conference in Virginia with his family. He was also invited to another event organised by the Sahyadri Kannada Sammelan.

“I was also to be conferred the Kannadiga of the Year award by another Kannada group in America, but now I will not be able to attend,” he said.

Speaking about the visa rejection, Yogiraj mentioned that the process was conducted within the consulate. He attended the visa interview but was later given a rejection slip. He added that since the application was under the emergency category, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) was involved in pushing for the issuance of the visa, but it was still rejected.

He also noted that while he was “not very disappointed”, he was looking forward to meeting fellow Indians in the US and understanding the art and culture of the country.

Yogiraj said he was confident that all his documents were in order and was puzzled as to why the visa was not approved. Interestingly, his wife, Vijetha, had travelled to the US earlier, making the rejection of his visa a surprise to family members.

“We are not sure why it was denied, but we will follow the due process,” said Vijetha.

According to the family, the sole purpose of the trip was to attend the conference, and the couple intended to return to India promptly after the event. “I don’t know the reasons why it was denied, but we submitted all the necessary documents related to the visa,” Yogiraj said.

The fifth-generation sculptor decided to quit his job as an HR professional and took up his family’s traditional vocation. He had previously sculpted the 12-foot-tall idol of Adi Shankaracharya that has been consecrated at the Kedarnath and the statue of Subhas Chandra Bose installed near India Gate in the national capital.