Bhyrappa's 'nuisance' remark triggers criticism

Activists of Mysore Kannada Vedike and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) staged a sit-in demonstration in front of Bhyrappa’s residence at Kuvempunagar, and demanded the writer to tender an apology. They also tried to barge into his residence, only to stopped by the police who have been deputed near  his house.

The protesters led by Balakrishna of Mysore Kannada Vedike and Madesh of KRV alleged that Bhyrappa has insulted Kannadigas by issuing such a statement.

“Though he has rose to fame due to the support and encouragement given by Kannadigas accepting his works, he has preferred to denounce them praising Gujarat State”, the protesters alleged.

Moreover, he has heaped praises on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The agitators gave a deadline of 24 hours to the writer to come out with an apology and warned of lodging a complaint at Kuvempunagar police station if he fails to do so. In a press release, Kannada Chalavaligarara Kendra Samithi President M Chandrashekaraiah has also demanded the apology of the writer.

Addressing media at his office MP H Vishwanath said Bhyrappa’s remarks favouring Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa shows that he is behaving like a spokesperson of BJP.

However, he clarified that he has high regards for the writer for bringing laurels to Kannada literature. In a mocking tone, Vishwanath said he may have made the statement owing to his old age.

Launching a tirade, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary G N Nagaraj said it seems  even a few writers are for sale and BJP led government has purchased them. Speaking at a district-level rally of CPI(M) here, Nagaraj said that Bhyrappa should be ashamed of supporting a corrupt Chief Minister.

Taking a strong exception to his comments asking the farmers to hand over their lands to State Government, Nagaraj said already eight lakh acres of land have been forcibly acquired from economically weak farmers.