The State government has decided to ban the book Valmiki Yaaru? by K.S. Narayanacharya, on the grounds that it contains material that hurts the sentiments of a community.
Minister of State for Kannada and Culture Umashree announced this after a prolonged debate in the Legislative Council on Thursday after Congress MLC Ugrappa raised the issue. He read out excerpts from the book where Mr. Narayanacharya claims that the author of the epic Ramayana was not born into the Beda community, but was a Brahmin by birth.
Mr. Ugrappa said this had hurt the sentiments of the Beda (Nayaka) community. He demanded that the book be banned and criminal charges be booked against the author. Mr. Narayanacharya, he said, had “hijacked” the icon of a community and created a divide in society. It amounted to “misuse of the freedom of expression”, he added.
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The initial reply by Ms. Umashree that the decision on banning a book can be taken only by the Home Ministry, after an expert committee examines if its contents come under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and other related sections, was not accepted by Mr. Ugrappa.
He walked into the well of the House demanding an instant ban, and was supported by JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti and others.
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When Ms. Umashree reasoned that it would be “procedurally inappropriate” to ban a book without an inquiry, Mr. Ugrappa said that any delay in taking action would hurt the community’s sentiments.
Ms. Umashree and Leader of the House S.R. Patil then announced that the book would be banned and cases booked against the author under relevant sections.
The written reply by the Home Minister, given in the Legislative Council, said there were cases against the author in Bellary and Hospet. The author had said during investigations that the book in question was the translation of a Sanskrit work called Ananda Ramayana .