Ananthamurthy's remarks irks litterateurs in K'taka

Mysore, Mar 23 (UNI) Eminent literary personalities today launched a scathing attack on Jnanpeeth awardee and one of the candidates in the fray for the coming Rajya Sabha elections U R Ananthamurthy for making 'derogatory' remarks against former Mysore University Vice Chancellor D Javare Gowda.

Addressing a joint media conference here, former Kannada University Vice Chancellor H J Lakkappa Gowda took exception to Dr Ananthamurthy's reported remarks that Prof Javare Gowda was 'mentally unsound' and demanded an apology for him for making such 'uncivilised' remarks.

He said ''Dr Ananthamurthy should not have made such remarks. He is unfit to represent Kannadigas in the Rajya Sabha.'' Noted columnist H S Krishnaswamy Iyengar and poet C P Krishnakumar also concurred with Mr Lakkappa Gowda's views.

Prof Javare Gowda, who was also present on the occasion, lashed out at Dr Ananthamurthy for his 'unsavoury' remarks. Calling him a 'liar,' he asked ''Can a person who said that eminent litterateur Kuvempu was not a poet, protect the interests of Kannadigas in the Rajya Sabha effectively.'' UNI BSP RG SB DB2017