Daijiworld Media Network- Kundapur (SN/SP)

Kundapur, Feb 5: The Konkani Kharvi Community will be boycotting the All-India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan being held here on Saturday February 7 and the next day, said Narayan Kharvi, president, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, speaking at a press conference held here on Wednesday February 4.

The Kharvi community has been neglected and kept out of the preparatory activities connected with the Sahitya Sammelan. Over 60 percent of Konkani Kharvi community residing is Kundapur has been culturally recognized at the national-level. Under the BJP rule, a Kharvi community representative has been chosen to lead the Konkani Sahitya Academy for the first time in its history, he pointed out.

Organizers of the Sammelan have been claiming that they have invited the Academy president and that the president, because of time constraints, will not be taking part in the Sammelan and that they would honour me if I attend it, he said, duly clarifying that neither himself nor the Kharvi community has received any official invitation for the Sammelan.

"We are not aware under what circumstances and for which reasons the Kharvi community has been sidelined. Elders in the society are pained at this neglect. Because of these reasons, I will not be attending the Sammelan. The community leaders including the All-Karnataka Konkani Kharvi Mahajana Sangh, Kundapur Mahankali Temple Council and Vidyaranga Mitr Mandali as also the community people spread all over the state have taken a decision to stay away from the Sammelan. I am also bound by this decision," Kharvi said.

Subash Kharvi, president, administrative council of Mahankali Temple, K G Naik of Vidyaranga Mitrmandali, municipal councillor Raviraj Kharvi, Dinakar Kharvi and Prakash Kharvi were present at the press conference.