Programme on Jesus Christ cancelled after ‘threat calls’

Organisers say that they cancelled the event due to ‘unavoidable reasons’

December 23, 2013 02:13 am | Updated 01:01 pm IST - HUBLI:

A dance and music programme on Jesus Christ named “Krista Kavya” scheduled here on Sunday was cancelled following threat calls that there would be protests against it.

Sri Vijaya Kalaniketan, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) , Dharwad, jointly announced the event at Srujana Rangamandir on Karnatak College campus.

A troupe of artistes, led by psychiatrist and Bharatanatyam exponent K.S. Pavitra, had come up with the innovative concept.

The organisers said that they had cancelled the event due to “unavoidable reasons”.

It was, however, later revealed that a few members of a right wing organisation allegedly threatened the organisers that they would stage protests in front of the auditorium, if they went ahead with holding the programme.

The organisers, however, clarified that they did not cancel the event in view of the threat but only to condemn the threat.

“Apart from Jesus Christ, the event focussed on humanitarian values and religion, and poems of various Kannada poets, including Da.Ra. Bendre and Channaveer Kanavi, had been used. But it is sad that such an event is being opposed,” one of the organisers said.

Dharwad unit coordinator for INTACH N.P. Bhat condemned the development. He said that at a time when art had crossed the boundaries of caste, language and religion, it was “really sad to know that there was opposition to such an event.”

Inquiry sought

Taking exception to the cancellation because of a threat, founder-president of Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music Foundation Manoj Hangal urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to initiate an inquiry into the incident and also take steps to provide security to artistes.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, copies of which were released to the media here, Mr. Hangal termed the incident a shame on the citizens of the twin cities which had always nourished art andculture.

He said that for the first time a cultural event in Dharwad had been cancelled because of a threat from vested interests.

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