Following protests, the seminar titled ‘Conversation of the Constitution’, was called off after the inaugural session. Kannada activists picketed the venue saying the seminar must be called off as the State was observing three days of mourning as a mark of respect to Dr. Shivakumara Swami of Siddaganga Mutt, who died on Monday. All government programmes have were cancelled for the period.
Meanwhile, the BJP — whose members were also among the speakers at the inaugural session — not only took objection to the programme during the mourning period, but also opposed the participation of some of the speakers. BJP spokesperson G. Madhusudhan walked out of the event. At a press conference, he took exception to the participation of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, Asaduddin Owaisi, Hyderabad MP, and even CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat. Rakesh Sinha, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, was also part of the first session.
However, Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge said the seminar was designed as a “platform for every voice to be heard”, and each of the sessions had a BJP-RSS voice, including voices of dissent. “The Constitution also allows dissent. We are ready to listen to all voices, but the BJP seems to be undemocratic and in no mood to listen to any voices apart from theirs,” he said. He added that BJP leaders seems to have not examined the schedule of the seminar well and were misled. Mr. Kharge also said a decision was taken on Monday to go ahead with the seminar since the speakers had reached Bengaluru on Monday night.
