Don't return awards, CM appeals to writers

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday appealed to writers not to return awards as the number of writers returning awards, conferred by akademis, is increasing in protest against the killing of researcher M M Kalburgi. 

He was speaking at the inaugural programme of the two-day valedictory session of the centenary celebrations of Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP), the representative body of Kannada-speaking people, at Kalamandira here.

The chief minister promised the literary community that the government is committed to protect the freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution.

Freedom of expression
Stating that a fearful atmosphere has been created, Siddaramaiah reaffirmed that there should be no dent to freedom of expression and everyone should enjoy it to make public his or her view in democracy.

Siddaramaiah said it is not just in Karnataka, but also in Maharashtra, where a similar atmosphere was created after the killing of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare. Such cases will be considered seriously (in Karnataka),  Siddaramaiah asserted.

Referring to Kalburgi’s case, Siddaramaiah said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is probing the case and certain clues have been gathered which cannot be divulged at this juncture. However, the culprits will be traced soon and punished, he added.

Anti-superstition Act
Siddaramaiah mentioned about the proposal to introduce Anti-superstition Act, to encourage scientific thinkings in the society.

Such thinkings are essential to bring changes and development in the society and opinions are being collected before implementing the Act, he observed.

He said superstitious beliefs and blind beliefs are an hurdle for human development and it is the responsibility of every government to check such hurdles.

Wadiyar remembered
Siddaramaiah sang paeans of the erstwhile Mysore (now Mysuru) ruler Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and the then dewan Sir M Visvesvaraya for establishing the Parishat to protect the interest of Kannada language and the people.

Earlier, Parishat president Pundalika Halambi appealed to 16 achievers from various fields, who had arrived to receive the Centenary Honorary Awards, not to return them in protest later. However, he clarified that he was not against those who have been returning awards.

Halambi also said that the awards conferred on them are always great as the Parishat is an autonomous institution.

‘Trim Nada Geethe’
Former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat G S Siddalingaiah appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to trim the lengthy lyrics of the ‘Nada Geethe’.

Before delivering his address at the opening of the valedictory session of the centenary celebrations of the Parishat (KSP)  here, Siddalingaiah said, “Be it national anthem or Nada Geethe, phrases should not be repeated between verses. The government should take a decision after discussing it”.