A group of writers, thinkers and activists launched a movement called 'Protect Pen' by submitting a pen and memorandum to Karnataka chief minister and home minister in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Prof Champa, Prof Shivaramaiah, Basavaraj Sulibhavi, Manglura Vijay, Sangamesh Menasinakai, T Satish Javare Gowda, Rukmini Nagannavar, BR Bhaskar Prasad, Govindraj Baichaguppe, Trimurthy DM, Nagaraj Harapanahalli, Mallappa Kumbar, Naveen Kumar A, H A Mani Siddarth and others were in delegation which met Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and submitted a memorandum to M Prabhakar, special officer to chief minister at CM home office, Krishna.
Discussing with Reddy, Shivaramaiah and Sulibhavi said that writers and thinkers fraternity is facing threat by the gun in nation and state as well. 'Government's failure in arresting murderers of Kalburgi is reason for assassination of Gauri Lankesh in Karnataka'. Government should expedite the investigation and send culprits behind the bar' they added.
Menasinakai, Haligeri and others said that pen is a symbol of freedom of expression, which is under threat of the gun. 'However, we are not feared by the gun and we will continue process utilising freedom provided under purview of Indian constitution. But it's government's duty to create secured atmosphere for writers, artistes, thinkers and activists of different schools of thought' they demanded.
Harapanahalli, Bhaskar Prasad said that no government can provide security to each individual. 'However government should create fear among anti-life forces by prosecuting them immediately. Karnataka was part of 'award vapsi' movement that was launched after Kalburgi murder. Now we are coming out with Protect Pen movement, which will be continued at different places of the nation in coming days'.
Responding to the delegation, Reddy assured of arrest of killers soon. 'SIT is working hardly in this regard and government is committed to protect writers and thinkers' he added.
Speaking at CM Home Office, Champagne and Vijay said Karnataka is best state for communal harmony and cultural pluralism. But recent killings of Kalburgi and Gauri created apprehensions among commoners. 'Same movement is started in Kolkata today and its being reflected in Belagavi, Karatagi, Yadgir, Mandya and other towns of Karnataka' they asserted.
