Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Updated
Bengaluru, Nov 11: A day after he stoked a controversy with his remarks on the occasion of Tipu Jayanti, veteran playwright, actor and litterateur, Girish Karnad on Wednesday 11 apologized for the statement he had made on Kempegowda.
In a statement released from his home at J P Nagar here, Karnad, a Jnanpith awardee, said that what he expressed was his personal opinion and that it was not backed by any evil intention. He said he was sorry if his remarks had hurt anyone.
The noted writer had expressed the opinion that Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru should have been named after Tipu Sultan. His remarks had come during the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan organized at the state secretariat on Tuesday November 10 in the presence of chief minister, Siddaramaiah. He had remarked that Kempegowda was not a freedom fighter like Tipu Sultan.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah said the government has nothing to do with the remarks made by Karnad at a state government-organised function to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan here yesterday.
"It is his personal remarks. The government does not have any connection to the remarks made by Karnad," Siddaramaiah said, as he also came under criticism for not rebutting the Jnanpith awardee immediately at the function itself.
Siddaramaiah also said it was a mistake on the part of the Jnanapith award winner to have made such remarks. "It is a mistake. I have told you," he said.
"I do not know why Girish Karnad made such a remark. I was also there (when he made the remark), I wanted to counter but I did not do," he said.
Siddaramaiah also said there was no question of renaming Kempegowda International Airport. "A decision had already been taken to keep the name of the BIAL as Kempegowda - there arises no question of replacing Kempegowda's name given to Bengaluru International Airport," he said.
"Mysuru regional commissioner will conduct the inquiry into the incident, which resulted in the unfortunate death of Kuttappa," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru earlier in the day.
Police caned the mob and fired tear gas on it to avert a clash between protestors and supporters of Tipu function.
The chief minister also announced Rs 5-lac compensation to Kuttappa's bereaved family.
A day-long shutdown was observed in Madikari town in Karnataka on Wednesday in protest against the celebration of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan's 265th birth anniversary by the state government on Tuesday.
"The 12-hour shutdown passed off without any untoward incident despite protest demonstrations and rallies by the BJP cadres and VHP activists in the town," Kodagu superintendant of police Vartika Katiyar told reporters here later.
Security was stepped up with the deployment of additional police forces across the town to maintain law and order.
"Ban order restricting assembling of more than five persons under section 144 of the CrPC has been extended to ensure peace and maintain law and order," Katiyar said.
BJP, JD(S) and various Kannada outfits slammed Karnad's remarks on naming the international airport after Kempegowda.
BJP said he had insulted the founder of Bengaluru on an issue which was a "closed chapter".
Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader, R Ashok, who is spearheading a campaign against the remarks of Karnad, who had also courted controversy with some previous remarks, said that he will continue to fight against the unkind remarks made by Karnad in spite of the apology offered.
"Karnad had made his remarks in a public meeting in Vidhana Soudha. If they were his personal opinions, they should have come at a private function. I hereby ask Karnad to come to Vidhan Soudha and make a public statement about his apology in the presence of chief minister," Ashok stated.
Hundreds of BJP's cadres, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajarang Dal activists staged a protest demonstration at T G circle in the centre of the town and took out a protest rally to the district's deputy commissioner's office against the state government for organising Tipu functions across the state.
JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said the remarks were an attempt to divide the society and the chief minister should have immediately responded to Karnad's remarks. "Does he (Karnad) know history? I don't know for what reason he was given Jnanpith," the JD(S) leader said.
Besides the opposition BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajarang Dal and other political, social and religious organisations criticised Karnad.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president SaRa Govindu said those with sense should not speak in that manner. Karnad's remarks were an insult to Kempegowda and an attempt to tar his image, he said, adding, the entire film industry condemned it.
Various Kannada organisations and heads of religious institutions also condemned Karnad for raking up a controversy by trying to equate Tipu with Kempe Gowda, who belonged to the dominant Vokkaliga community.
With PTI and IANS Inputs