Karnataka police drags away 84-year-old Kannada writer Chidananda Murthy in Chief Minister's presence

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The News Minute | March 25, 2015 | 4.09 pm IST Kannada writer and historian Chidananda Murthy was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after being dragged away from Vidhan Soudha in the Chief Minister’s presence, for protesting over government's celebration of the birth anniversary of a mythological person.. The writer had turned up at the banquet hall of the Vidhan Soudha where the government had organized an event to celebrate the birth anniversary of Devara Dasimaiah along with his supporters to register his protest over the celebration when he was forcefully taken away from the hall by police in civilian clothes. He was taken away in a police jeep, arrested and then released. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to take questions from the media but said that the manner in which he was taken away was wrong. Chidananda Murthy, who has been given the Rajyotsava and Sahitya Adacemy awards, was apparently pointing out that the government had mistaken Devara Dasimaiah with 'Vachanakara' Jedara Dasimaiah. Reading out details of both poets from a paper he held in his hand, the 84-year-old historian pointed out that they were two different people. He also said that the government had made another error which would amount to saying that Devaradasi Maiyya was married to Jedara Dasimaiah's wife. 'Jedara Dasimaiaih's wife Duggale was also a 'Vachanakarthi,' he pointed out. (Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada and those who practised this form of writing were called Vachanakaras and Vachanakarthis) "Along with like minded people met Kannada and culture minister Umashri about 15 days back. We told her that it is wrong on the part of the government to celebrate Devara Dasimaiah's birth anniversary as he was not at all a 'Vachanakara'," he told the media. Culture minister Umasri defended police action saying protesters were not raising objections in the right platform though they are entitled to their opinion and therefore the police were forced to dragged them away. (Photo Courtesy: TV9 Kannada YouTube channel) Tweet Follow @thenewsminute

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