Mangaluru: Rama Sene leader Prasad Attavar was recently arrested for allegedly circulating messages on Facebook supporting the murder of scholar and rationalist Dr M.M. Kalburgi and also warning against those who speak against Hindu Gods.
Mr Prasad, who is out on bail, denied that he circulated the message. He also claimed that none of the right wing organisations was involved in the murder of Dr Kalburgi.
Mr Prasad, who is an accused in the infamous 2009 Mangaluru pub attack when he was leading Pramod Muthalik’s Sri Rama Sene, was arrested for his alleged links with underworld element Ravi Poojary in 2010. Recently he split from Sri Rama Sene and has formed his own outfit Rama Sene.
You were arrested for posting messages supporting the killing of Dr Kalburgi. Why did you post that message in Facebook? Do you support his killing?
I never posted anything against Dr Kalburgi. In fact, I really do not know much about Dr Kalburgi and his statements. On the day he died I was travelling. The post was tagged to me and it was not posted by me. I am not very tech-savvy. I would have agreed if I had posted the message. I never supported his killing. There are allegations that Hindu outfits are behind his murder… It is wrong to point fingers at Hindu outfits, as they do not stoop to such levels. There could be some personal reasons too.
Why do right wing organisations protest when progressive thinkers make statements?
We are not against any progressive thinkers or scholars. We respect them and their contribution to society. We respect freedom of expression. But this does not mean anybody can speak against Hindu beliefs and Gods. How can they attack our beliefs? It is natural for Hindu outfits to protest and condemn such speeches. Will the Congress keep quiet if someone speaks against Gandhiji?
Will Hindu organisations continue attacking such thinkers and scholars who give such statements?
Statements against Hindu Gods and beliefs, especially by scholars, cannot be tolerated. But we will not attack them. Such statements will be condemned and FIR will be booked against them. We will fight legally.
No breakthrough yet
The CID, which is probing the killing of scholar and rationalist Dr M.M. Kalburgi, has not made any breakthrough even a week after the tragic incident. The sleuths are looking for clues by questioning litterateurs, neighbours and other people who are closely associated with the academic. They are continuing to study various angles by visiting Kalyan Nagar, Barakotri and other areas in Dharwad.
The sources said that the investigation team has not got any information on the identities of the two assailants, even after thorough verification of footage from all the CCTV cameras installed in several places in the area.
Though one of the angles being pursued was the property dispute, the sleuths could not go too far with that after questioning Dr Kalburgi’s children and relatives. The CID team, headed by Dr D.C. Rajappa, has been camping in the city since the case was handed over to it. Investigators visited Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences and discussed with forensic experts to determine the make and bore of the revolver used in the assassination.
Congress leader Veeranna Mattikatti said. “It is unfortunate that the probe team has failed to get any clues about the assailants even a week after the incident. I will pressurise the state government to speed up the investigation and hold programmes to highlight the Kannada research work done by the scholar.”
