Bheemanna Khandre

GULBARGA: The All-India Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Sunday warned of a severe agitation if the State Government did not ban the controversial book "Anudeva Horagavavanu" written by Banjegere Jayaprakash.

President of the mahasabha Bheemanna Khandre, its vice-president Vishwanath Reddy Mudnal and other office-bearers of the mahasabha set a deadline of June 17 for the Government to ban the book.

Mr. Khandre said the executive committee of the mahasabha was meeting in Bangalore on June 17 to chalk out a plan for launching an agitation to force the Government to ban the book which had raised a storm in literary circles over the comments made about the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara and his sister Akka Nagamma.

Prakash criticised

Criticising Home Minister M.P. Prakash for his stand that the author had the freedom of expression to air his views, Mr. Khandre said the statement of Mr. Prakash went against the judgment of the Supreme Court which said that although freedom of expression was enshrined in the Constitution, nobody had unfettered freedom to say or write whatever they wanted, and the right of freedom of expression should not be used to injure the religious sentiments or hurt anybody.

Sentiments hurt

He said that the book written by Dr. Jayaprakash had hurt the sentiments of millions of Veerashaivas who had high regard for Basaveshwara.

Mr. Khandre pointed out "Maha Chaitra" by H.S. Shivaprakash and "Dharma Karana" by P.V. Narayana, which had hurt the Veerashaivas, were banned.

The Supreme Court had upheld the proscription of the books.

Mr. Khandre said two days ago a delegation of the mahasabha, led by him, met Mr. Prakash in Bangalore and demanded that the State Government proscribe the book.

During the meeting Mr. Prakash denied making any statement that the author had the right to express his views, but refused to issue a statement in this regard.

Mr. Prakash stated that he would place the demand for the ban on the book before the Cabinet and reiterated that he was personally opposed to the banning of the book.

Mr. Khandre spoke of the tendency among writers to comment on the personal life of religious heads and senior politicians of the past.

Instead of digging into their past, the writers should devote their time in constructive way by highlighting the rich cultural and religious heritage of the country.

Non-violent stir

He said the proposed agitation by the Veerashaivas would be non-violent, but if the agitation took a violent turn the Government should be blamed for that.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail