'Undercurrent of hate is very real,' say writers, scholars; BJP disagrees

On Tuesday, thousands of people led by writers, artists, thinkers, activists students took to the streets of Bengaluru to protest against Gauri Lankesh's brutal killing

Even as thousands marched condemning the 'death of dissent' in Bengaluru on Tuesday, prominent Dalit thinker and writer Kancha Ilaiah filed a police complaint alleging threat to life in Hyderabad. While hundreds, including writers and progressive thinkers who took part in Tuesday's rally, claimed that undercurrent of hate is very real in today's India, threats to writers like Ilaiah seem to only prove the claim.

Professor Ilaiah in his complaint to the Osmania University police said he felt "terribly threatened" by phone calls from unidentified persons. The "threat calls", he claimed were in opposition to his book, 'Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu'. The phenomenon is not new. A host of writers have complained about threat calls and letters over their body of work. Now, researchers say that the anger is spilling on to scholars as well.

"The undercurrent of hate is very real and very deep. My family is scared of the threats I receive for m research work. I have been asked to stop any research that doesn't impress one political colour," said a political analyst from Karnataka who did not wish to be named for reasons of security than anything else. He added that the undercurrent has seeped enough to have the last ring of public agitated over writings that do not ascribe to their political ideology.

"The threats are very evident and real. I go to the police every time I receive a threat call or letter because that is all I can do. The government has provided gunmen who are with me 24/7 making me feel safe. All attacks have been when the victims have been alone," K S Bhagwan, a prominent writer in Karnataka whose rationalist outlook has brought him many death threats.

A Congress party leader who did not wish to be named spoke about how the environment of hatred is impacting his family. "My phone was not reachable for just two hours last week and my wife was petrified. She was sobbing when I called her back. That is the reality we live in today. She was worried because Gauri had shared many of my posts that were in disagreement with the BJP and Sangh," he said.

Girish Karnad, writer, a Jnanpith awardee and a prominent face of 'I am Gauri protest' has a simple question. "If there was no threat perception, why would all these people come and protest?". He added that whether or not a protest makes a difference, people should raise their voice. "We are supporting a cause. People should speak up against violence to send out a message that they oppose it," he said.

The BJP in Karnataka as well as at the center, is not in agreement with the claims. "The protest and for now the entire outrage over Gauri's murder is merely a front for RSS and BJP bashing. With such protests, they want to create another wave of Award Wapsi but it won't work. Is there really a genuine concern for justice for Gauri or is her death being used for political mileage?" asked Malavika Avinash, spokerson BJP.

OneIndia News