Bharatiya Janata Party MLC G. Madhusudhan, in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, asked the government to withdraw the decision on banning K.S. Narayanacharya’s book Valmiki Yaaru? and set up a committee to look into the issue.
He said Prof. Narayanacharya was a renowned scholar in ancient literature and scriptures and he had only “explored various points of view” on the birth of Valmiki. (The book claims that Valmiki was a Brahmin by birth and not a Beda). Mr. Madhusudhan, who raised the issue in Zero Hour, argued that banning the book was a violation of freedom of speech and expression.
Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa said the BJP member’s demand for withdrawal of the ban had “ulterior motives.”
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It was Mr. Ugrappa who had earlier raised the issue in the Council and demanded a ban. Leader of the House S.R. Patil said there was no need to re-look at the decision because an elaborate discussion had been held in the House before the ban was announced.