Karnataka - Bijapur   

Bagalkot bandh near total

Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR: The Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha (ABVM) and other non-governmental organisations on Thursday observed near total bandh in Bagalkot town on Thursday seeking a ban on the book Anudeva Horaganavanu, authored by Banjegere Jayaprakash.

Shops and business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed. Buses and autorikshaws were off the road till 3 p.m.. Long-route buses, which were to pass through the town, were diverted from the outskirts.

Protesters gathered in strength in front of Charanthi Math before taking out a procession that culminated in a public meeting at Vallabhbhai Chowk.

Mahantha Swami of Chittaragi Samsthana Math, Ilkal; Prabhu Swamiji of Charanthi Math, Bagalkot; Bagalkot MLA Veeranna Charanthimath; president of BJP district unit and Jamkhandi MLA Siddu Savadi; mahasabha’s district unit head Malleshappa Jigajinni and others, who spoke on the occasion, said the book had cheap comments on 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, and hurt the religious feelings of large section of society.

Referring to the ban on P.V. Narayana’s book “Dharmakarana” and the subsequent endorsement of the order by Supreme Court, the speakers said this book too should be banned immediately.

Later, they handed over a letter addressed to Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, to Assistant Commissioner S.G. Patil. The letter warned that the agitation would be intensified in the coming days if the State Government failed to concede the demand.

Opponents of the book observed a bandh in Bijapur on Wednesday.

However the bandh evoked mixed response.

Shops and business establishments resumed normal business soon after the protest march passed the market area. Sri Jayadeva Jagadguru of Vanshri Samsthanamath, Bijapur; Shantamallikarjuna Swamiji of Jnanayogashrama, Bijapur; Mahadeva

Shivacharya of Brahanmath, Bableshwar, and some other pontiffs, and district unit head of ABVM, Sidramappa Uppin sought prosecution of the author besides ban on the book.

They also criticised Home Minister M.P. Prakash for opposing ban on the book.

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