The controversy over the book, Madhorubhagan , written by Perumal Murugan, was solved on Monday after over four hours of negotiations at the Collectorate here.
A peace agreement was signed by Mr. Murugan and various members of Hindu outfits late on Monday night.
According to V.R. Subbulakshmi, District Revenue Officer, who chaired the meeting, the writer had agreed to issue an unconditional apology, delete controversial portions in the book, withdraw unsold copies from the market and not to write on controversial subjects hurting sentiments of people.
The Hindu outfits agreed to withdraw from all forms of protests with immediate effect. Both parties decided not to press for FIRs on complaints against each other.
Commotion prevailed at the Collectorate’s entrance even before the commencement of the meeting at 4.30 p.m. on Monday, when police refused to allow over a hundred members of various Hindu outfits to participate in the meeting.
The protesters demanded that all those assembled be allowed for the meeting. But, the police agreed to allow only 30 representatives .
The DRO held separate meetings with the 30-member team and also with Perumal Murugan, who had come to the meeting alone with police protection.
R. Suman, Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruchengode, and Ramasamy, Deputy Superintendent of Police, assisted the DRO at the meeting. According to sources close to Mr. Murugan, he had told his supporters that he would participate in the meeting on his own and they need not accompany him. Mr. Murugan has been provided with police protection for the past few days following the controversy.
