The 83rd Akhila Bharata Sahitya Sammelana in Mysuru saw activists protesting against Pejawar seer Vishwesha Teertha, who had sought Constitutional amendment for ensuring cow protection and doing away with the special provisions for minorities during Dharma Sansad in Udupi.
During the fag end of a session on pluralism and challenges in the contemporary situation, there was chaos near the media gallery as a large number of activists engaged in sloganeering. The activists said they were supportive of the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar and not that of the seer and accused the latter of trying to strengthen caste-based social hierarchy.
Meenakshi Bali, a critic and social activist, said Dalits and women have suffered for thousands of years and the return to the Chaturvarna system will weaken their position again. “We do not want Ram Rajya, but we want Bhima Rajya,” she said.
