Murder of scholar and rationalist Mr. M.M. Kalburgi on Sunday in Dharwad sparked several protests in Raichur on Monday. A dozen of organisations, including Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Lohiya Pratishtana, Samudaya, Dalita Sahitya Parishat, Ahila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Raichur Reporters' Guild, Hyderabad Karnataka Vimochana Vedike, All India Democratic Students Organisation, All India Democratic Youth Organisation, staged a demonstration at Tipu Sultan Gardens condemning the “brutal murder”. The agitating activists and students wore black armbands during the protest.
Speaking at the agitation, Nagaraj Maski, a leader of Sharana Sahitya Parishat, demanded State government to hand over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation. “An outspoken scholar, rationalist and literary critic of high standard was murdered in a most brutal manner. It is not only the death of a great scholar of a high integrity, but that of the freedom of speech and democracy. Government should immediately hand over the case to CBI and bring the culprits to the court of law,” he said.
Kannada Sahitya Prarishat district president Mahantesh Maski termed the murder as the murder of freedom of speech and democracy. “First time in the history of Karnataka, a scholar is killed for his views. The fascist forces, instead of facing him with counter arguments, attempted to silence his voice with force. Mr. Kalburgi must have died, but not his thoughts. His views and ideals continue to haunt the forces that killed him,” he said.
Channabasava Janekal, a youth leader, stressed the need of uniting the Left, democratic and progressive forces in the society to build resistance movement against fascist forces that were increasingly resorting to violence to silence democratic voices.
Bheemanagowda Itagi, Syed Hafeez Ulha, Ambanna Aroli, Veera Hanuman, Sharanappa Gudihal, Mahesh Cheekalaparvi, Sharanappa Gudihal, N.S. Veeresh, Siddalingappa Patil, S.S. Hiremath, Tayanna Yeragera and other writers and activists were present. A memorandum was submitted to the office of Deputy Commissioner.
