Ending the row over the book ‘Komatollu-Samajika Smuglerlu’ by writer Kancha Ilaiah, the representatives of the Arya Vysya, Dalit and the BC organisations came together before media on Saturday claiming to have solved the issue amicably. CPI leaders appeared to have brokered the peace.
After a two-hour meeting reportedly in consultation with Prof. Ilaiah and MP T.G. Venkatesh of the Vysya community on Friday night, the representatives decided to end the issue and called upon all the respective community members in the neighbouring States too not to enter into conflict anymore.
“In a bid to put a full stop to the issue, we have discussed with the supporters of Prof. Ilaiah and also spoke to him over the phone. He assured that he will not speak against Vysyas hereafter. We told him about the mistakes in the book and he is ready for a discussion on them,” claimed AP Arya Vysya Mahasabha president Jayanti Venkateswarlu at the press conference.
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“We will soon sit with Prof. Ilaiah and all other members to discuss the contents of the book and changes if necessary will be made later. Our community members are also asking Prof. Ilaiah to apologise for everything and we too are ready to do the same if needed,” he said.
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said it was decided to ensure that no conflicts between the communities occurred hereafter and the cooperation of both the parties had been emphasised. The communities would not object to the public meetings of others, he added.
Before the press conference commenced, a heated argument occurred between a section of the Arya Vysya leaders and Prof. Ilaiah’s supporters/CPI leaders over clarity on the agenda.
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Mr. Jayanti pacified Ilaiah Sanghibhava Samajika JAC convenor Y. Koteswara Rao who attempted to garland the statue of B.R. Ambedkar but was detained by the police. Representatives of the Brahmin community, who too had a grouse against Prof. Ilaiah, attended the reconciliation meeting but did not attend the press conference.
Later, Mr. Jayanti, Mr. Ramakrishna, Dalita Hakkula Porata Samiti State organising secretary B. Rayappa and others garlanded the statue of Ambedkar at the Tummalapalli Kalakshetram. They also formally met Commissioner of Police D. Gautam Sawang.
City in security grip
On the other hand, Prof. Ilaiah was not available for comment on the claims made by the Arya Vysya leaders. He did not take the calls from this newspaper.
Meanwhile, the Gymkhana Grounds and the adjacent small but busy road wore a curfew-like look on Saturday with police forces on guard to prevent entry of supporters and rivals of the author who announced simultaneous public meetings at the same venue. Traffic on the road was stopped and the commercial establishments on it were forced to remain closed for the day. Motorists were forced to take diversion and travel on alternative routes till evening. However, from afternoon pedestrians were allowed to use the road.
DCP B.V. Ramana Kumar supervised the situation at the ground. Vehicles at all entry points of the city were checked since morning.
The police deployed 15 platoons of the AP Special Force and other personnel at the ground and the Ambedkar statue near the Tummalapalli Vari Kalakshetram. Earlier, they denied permission to both the parties for holding public meetings and rallies and prohibited gathering of more than five people. More than 21 persons were taken into preventive custody under Section 151 CrPC, according to police. They were released later.