K'taka Govt bans controversial book on Basaveshwara

Bangalore, July 23 (UNI) The Karnataka Government today banned the controversial Kannada book 'Anudeva Horaganavanu', which deals with the birth of 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara.

Kannada and Culture Minister H S Mahadevaprasad, making a suo motu statement in the Legislative Assembly, said the Government had banned the book, written by Banjagere Jaiprakash, as per the recommendations made by the five-member Fact Finding Committee set up to go into the issue by the Government.

The book had created a major controversy with the Veerashaivas, a dominant community in the country and followers of Basaveshwara, launching a statewide agitation demanding a ban on the book, which depicted the social reformer to have born to a Dalit father.

The Government had constituted the Committee following widespread protests by Veershaivas, who said the book had hurt their sentiments and cast aspersions on the birth of Basaveshwara against the popular belief that he was born in a Brahmin family.

Mr Mahadevaprasad, quoting media reports, said writer Jaiprakash had also withdrawn the book and there was no need to drag the issue further and urged the followers of Basaveshwara to maintain peace and harmony in the society.

CPI(M) member G V Sriramareddy protested against the statement, giving details on the opinion of the Committee members as expressed in the Committee report in the House and staged a walkout.

Reacting to the ban, Mr Jaiprakash said the Government's move to ban the book was ''uncalled for'' as he had already decided to ''temporarily withdraw'' the book with a view not to disturb peace and social harmony.

UNI