Girish Karnad incurs Kannadigas’ ire

Renowned theatre personality and Jnanpeeth awardee Girish Karnad’s statement that people of Karnataka should accept the final award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal has set off a chain of angry reactions across the State with pro-Kannada outfits spitting fire at him.

After the plain-speaking Girish Karnad told a television channel that Karnataka should honour the verdict of the Tribunal, pro-Kannada outfits and farmers’ organizations went livid with rage and burnt the noted playwright’s effigies in Bangalore, Mysore and Mandya, the hot-bed of Cauvery agitation.

Police had to provide security to Karnad’s residence at J P Nagar in Bangalore after he reportedly received threatening phone calls. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Bangalore, Alok Kumar told reporters that security had been stepped up around the Jnanpith awardee’s house in the wake of the protests against him.

Anticipating trouble from pro-Kannada groups, theatre group Ranga Shankara, which was staging “Karnad company”, a compilation of plays written by Karnad, cancelled the shows.

With a strong anti-Karnad sentiment gripping the pro-Kannada protestors in the State, the eminent playwright, who is also a celebrated Kannada writer, was forced to issue a clarification to the newspapers.

In his statement, Karnad clarified that he never said that Karnataka should not appeal against the award. “The Tribunal provides for an appeal, but since this decision is up to the Government of Karnataka, I made no reference to it”, he said.

He claimed that he had merely said that Karnataka was bound to accept the award, “however unpalatable it may be”, as the Tribunal had been formed with the agreement of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry. “I did not say that that we should not appeal against the award”, he said.