Daijiworld Media Network — Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Sep 2: Komusauharda Vedike, Dalit Sangarsha Samiti and Udupi district history lecturers, Okkuta members and other association members staged a protest alongside a condolence meeting for late M M Kalburgi near Clock Tower here on Tuesday September 1.
K Paniraj, a rationalist, condemned the killing of the former vice-chancellor of Hampi University. He said, “It is not only the death of a great scholar of high integrity but that of the freedom of speech. There is need to think like the youth.” He added that he suspects Kalburgi fell victim to the power of Shaiva religious leaders.
“Last year, the police had filed a case against him for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus after he criticized idol worship quoting the literary work of another celebrated writer. His straight forward principles might have led to his death,” opined Paniraj.
Jyothi Guruprasad, a writer, said that he was killed only because of his authentic write-up on religion. “Truth, honesty, and harmony should get real value in society. Humanity means religiosity. Now the lives of rational thinkers are in danger,” she added.
Guruprasad questioned whether healthy rational thoughts were wrong. She hoped that it would not go viral like sensational news in the media and that such cases would not be repeated in future.
Balakrishna Shetty, convener, CITU, addressing the protestors, said Kalburgi’s death is a huge loss for Karnataka. “Only his body has been buried, but his theories and ideologies are still alive,” he added wishing that many more such Kalburgis will take birth.
Rajshekhar, president, Komu Sauhardha Vedike, said during the condolence meeting that the police should reveal the truth through a detailed investigation. “The government is least bothered and they have washed their hands off the matter by handing over the case to a higher authority. Many of the CBI cases are still stagnating without any development,” he added.
The committee members demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI and the truth be revealed at the earliest.
Muhammad Idris, Sridhar Bhat, Manjunath Giliyaru, Husain Kodibengre, William Martis and Jayan Malpe were among those present.