Attack on writer condemned

Office-bearers of Akhila Bharatha Praja Vedike and Mysuru unit of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) have condemned the smearing of black ink by advocate Meera Raghavendra on the face of writer K S Bhagawan on the court premises in Bengaluru on Thursday.

In a press release, issued here, on Friday, Dr V Lakshminarayan, Panditaradya and G P Basavaraju have said, her accusation is that Bhagawan has insulted Hindu dharma. "But, in Bhagawan’s writings, there is no insult to any religion. It is logical criticism. Such criticism is only debatable on ideological basis. The arrogance cannot be tolerated. This is an act to snub the Right for Expression. Meera has blackened her own face, in the process,” the press note states.

“There is difference of opinion in the society, because India is a democracy. There are activists like Suresh Bhat Bakrabail of PUCL, Jignesh Mewani and Kanhaiya Kumar, who think rationally and differently. If somebody has a complaint against their opinion, it can be debated publicly. Personal attack, such as smearing of black ink on one’s face, is only cowardice and escapism,” the activists said.

"The incident should be viewed in the light of the government’s recent decision, not to buy Bhagawan’s books for libraries. In general, right wing communalism and fascism is spreading which tentacles in Karnataka and across India. There is a need for an united resistance against such forces,” the press note reads.