Criticising Jnanapith awardee U R Ananthamurthy for his statement that he wouldn’t be alive to see Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister, BJP member of the Rajya Sabha Ayanur Manjunath likened the writer to controversial model Poonam Pandey.

Pandey had vowed to get photographed nude if India won the cricket World Cup in 2011. Though the Men in Blue lifted the coveted trophy, the actor had gone back on her promise. Manjunath, who is also the State BJP spokesperson, said the writer was trying to derive cheap publicity like Pandey. Manjunath was addressing a press conference at the party’s district office here on Wednesday.

‘Opportunist’

He said Ananthamurthy’s statement shows his negative mindset. Since only the people’s choice matters in a democracy, Ananthamurthy should keep a visa ready, the spokesman said. The Legislator described the writer as an opportunist.

He said, “I do have immense respect for Ananthamurthy, who hails from our district. However, I do not understand why he was disturbed when BJP declared Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. Ananthamurthy’s statement has received severe criticism from all sections of the society, he claimed.