The session on sedition law in India at the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana turned chaotic when actor-turned-BJP spokesperson Malavika Avinash referred to the alleged “elimination” of BJP and Sangh Parivar activists in coastal districts.
The audience asked Ms. Avinash not to politicise the issue of intolerance. Making use of the platform, the actor regretted that justice had not been delivered to the death of “innocent people” and those speaking about intolerance are silent about these incidents.
The police had a tough time pacifying the audience who were divided. While some supported Ms. Avinash, another section opposed her for diverting the issue. As the matter turned from bad to worse, she voluntarily stepped down from the podium. The session was temporarily halted for 15 minutes.
However, following the support extended by another group of audience, Ms. Avinash continued her talk on the condition of Kannada in Karnataka and the urgent need for the government to open more schools, where Kannada will be the medium of instruction.
However, there was no protest when she shifted her focus on the raging controversy on entry of women to Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, articulating her opposition to it. Arguing that the atmosphere was becoming more intolerant in recent years, she blamed it on vested interests who were “misguiding society” and adding new words such as “intolerance” and “lynching” to the vocabulary.