Bengaluru: Protests by the Opposition BJP and some pro-Kannada organisations, citing three-day mourning announced following the demise of Siddaganga Math seer Dr Shivakumar Swamiji, forced cancellation of a seminar sponsored by the social welfare department here on Tuesday.
The seminar, 'Conversations of the Constitution', which was organised by the social welfare department and a television channel, was called off after the first session, according to social welfare minister Priyank Kharge. Former vice president Hamid Ansari, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha, retired Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde, student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, social activist Medha Patkar, film actor Prakash Raj and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were among the prominent speakers.
Chief Minister H D Kumarasamy had announced one-day government holiday on Tuesday and a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect for the seer. "The state government is organising this event in the name of Constitution when it has declared three-day mourning. It should have cancelled the event," Karnataka BJP spokesperson Go Madhusudan told reporters outside a hotel where the seminar was organised. The BJP leader said he had spoken to Mr Kharge, asking him to call off the event as it was unfair, but the government remained adamant. Mr Madhusudan claimed he had been invited to the event by one of the organisers, but he chose to boycott it. "Shamelessness of @INCKarnataka reaches new heights. While the state is mourning the loss of Shri Shivakumara Swamiji, Congress minister @PriyankKharge has organised a luxury event inviting Tukde gang head Kanhaiya & Owaisi to speak on democracy. May God do well to you," BJP's Karnataka unit said in a tweet.
In a statement released here, BJP SC Morcha national general secretary Chi Na Ramu and state general secretary Ravi Kumar also slammed the state government for holding the event. The statement said organising an event like 'Conversations of the Constitution' by inviting Mr Owaisi was "laughable". When Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress pointed out that Sinha, BJP Rajya Sabha member, was also a panelist, he clarified that he had withdrawn from the event. "I withdrew from the event, didn't join opening session...I openly insisted the programme should be cancelled. Don't disguise your discourtesy using my name," Mr Sinha said in a tweet.
