A controversy has erupted over the presentation of Dr. Kota Shivaram Karanth Huttura Prashasti to actor Prakash Raj, at a function to be held at Kota village in Udupi district on Tuesday, which is the birth anniversary of the Jnanpith award winner late Kota Shivaram Karanth.
The award, instituted by the Kotathattu Gram Panchayat in Udupi district, the Karanth Birthplace Award Foundation and the Karanth Trust, is being given annually for the last 13 years since 2005.
Some organisations, including the district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Akhila Karnataka Nathapantha Jogi Samaj Seva Sangha, have opposed the presentation of the award to Mr. Raj for his reported statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the backdrop of the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
In a press note issued here, Yashpal Suvarna, district in-charge of BJP Yuva Morcha, said that the award should not be given to Mr. Raj. If the award was given, the morcha would stage a district-wide protest and it would also try to stop the award presentation ceremony, he said.
Keshav Koteshwar, president of the State unit of Akhila Karnataka Nathapantha Jogi Samaj Seva Sangha, told The Hindu that Mr. Raj had made derogatory remarks against Mr. Adityanath, which has saddened the entire Jogi community. Hence, the sangha would stage a silent protest and show black flags when Mr. Raj arrived to receive the award, he said.
But other organisations, including the Kota Block Congress Committee, the Dalit Damanitara Horata Samiti and Panchavarna Yuvaka Mandal, have backed the award presentation to Mr. Rai.
Meanwhile, Pramod Hande, president of Kotathattu Gram Panchayat, said that the award presentation would take place as scheduled. “We have sought police help and the function will get police protection. Mr. Raj will attend the function. Politics should be kept away from this award. Mr. Raj was chosen for the award for his contribution to films, nearly three months ago,” he said.
The entire Kotathattu Gram Panchayat is dominated by BJP-supported members.
Sanjeev M. Patil, Superintendent of Police, said that the function will proceed smoothly on Tuesday. “Anybody trying to take the law into their own hands will be dealt with sternly,” he said.
