Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 11: Cultural, literary and sports organizations which came together at a programme held at Town Hall here on Thursday August 10 unequivocally came in support of chairman of Alva's Education Foundation, M Mohan Alva. At the same time, they insisted that an in-depth investigation has to be conducted into the unnatural death of student, Kavya, and truth has to be revealed. Till then, the organizations felt it would be grossly improper to indulge in unsubstantiated character assassination of a person of Dr M Mohan Alva's stature and caliber.

This was the united opinion that emerged at a programme, 'Alvarondige Naavu' organized at Town Hall with the coming together of various cultural, literary and sports organizations from undivided Dakshina Kannada district.

Well-known Yakshagana critic, Dr Prabhakar Joshi, said that Alva has not authored any book, but he himself is a book and happens to be an icon for whom the whole country should be proud of. Joshi said that the achievements of this great personality will not be dented by malicious propaganda indulged in by some people who get happiness out of creating trouble for others. He called for condemning this attack on cultural world and that everyone wants ultimate truth to come out.

General secretary of Karavali Nirtya Kala Parishat, Chandrashekhar Navada, noted that Alva spends about Rs 12 crore for cultural field alone every year and a large number of students with stellar achievements in cultural and sports fields are getting free education in Alva's institutions. A Sadanand Shetty, chairman of Shree Devi Education Trust, expressed confidence that the people who are passing derogatory remarks against Alva now will repent for their hasty actions soon.

At the programme, international high jumper, Sahana Kumar, said that Alva is the only person who encourages people with excellent achievement with personal reward of Rs 25,000. She hailed Alva as a person with a rich heart who helps everyone in spite of their native place and district. She said she is indebted to him and expressed regret for the wrong propaganda going against Alva.

Former minister, B Nagaraj Shetty, district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president, S Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, leaders of organizations like Chandrashekhar Shetty, Dr Vasanth Kumar Perla, Swarna Sundar, Purushotham Poojary, Dinesh Kundar, Shashiraj Kavoor, Kishore D Shetty, Ashok Shetty, Ramachandar Bykappady, M R Vasudeva, Shashidhar Shetty, Nityanand Rao, Vasant Shetty, Raviraj Shetty, and Vijayalaxmi were present.

Meanwhile, five activists of Hindu Mahasabha, who had arrived at the venue to hold protest against the programme, were taken into custody by the police at the gate of the Town Hall. Four activists managed to escape. The activists led by Rajesh Putran sporting black bands around their arms and flags in their hands, were raising slogans when they were taken into custody.