Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Jan 21: Several organizations including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), ex-servicemen, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) etc registered their anger at certain remarks made by Dr Shiva Vishwanathan in the 'Sahitya Sambhrama' programme here. They gave vent to their anger on Sunday January 20.

Speaking at the said programme, Dr Shiva Vishwanathan, had on Saturday. accused soldiers of indulging in rapes in the border areas.

Five RSS activists who rushed to the dais at the valedictory of the said progamme, raised slogans against Vishwanathan, and threw away table, chairs, and microphones. The function had to be suspended for about ten minutes thereafter.

Earlier in the day, District Ex-servicemen's Association, Dharwad District Veeranariyara Sangha, district ex-servicemen's welfare association, ABVP etc tried to lay siege to the programme. The activists rushed in when a symposium was going on and expressed themselves against what Vishwanathan had said. They demanded that Dr Vishwanathan should withdraw his statement. Ex-servicemen demanded time to be able to hit back at Vishwanathan at the same dais.

As president of Sahitya Sambhrama Trust, Raghavendra Patil, did not heed to this request, the former soldiers raised slogans. After strong words were exchanged between Patil and ex-servicemen, th epolice had a hard time controlling the situation. This incident gave rise to tense situation at the venue for sometime. All the gates of Suvarna Mahotsava Bhavan, where the programme was held, were locked for sometime. After discussions lasting for 30 minutes, Patil agreed to allow the soldiers to present their side for three minutes. The situation improve thereafter.