I will not compromise on my freedom of expression: Dalit writer Kancha Ilaiah
WARANGAL: Even as Arya Vysya organisations have been holding protests in parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh seeking a ban on his book, “Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers)”, controversial social activist and Dalit writer Kancha Ilaiah stood by what he had written in his book and denied that he used any derogatory word. He even threw a challenge asking people belonging to Arya Vysya community to join army to prove their patriotism.
Kancha Ilaiah had sought police protection after he received several threatening phone calls. Kancha IIaiah, who came to the city to take part in a meet held on the occasion of formation of T-MAS forum (Telangana Mass and Social Organisations Forum) here on Sunday, denied that he used any derogatory word. “Social Smuggling is a phrase.
It is the economic process of exploitation, which means earning in business but not investing back into society,” he explained. Referring to the protest by the community members of Arya Vysya, Kancha, who is presently the Director, Center for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad, said he would not compromise on his ‘right to freedom of expression’ and vowed that death threats would not deter him. He announced that if anything happens to him, Arya Vysya Sangam international president K Ramakrishna would be responsible.
Kancha said that it was people belonging to SC and ST communities who are joining forces and protecting the country and the people belonging to Arya Vyshas were enjoying the sacrifice made by them. “If you have the guts then join the army and serve the country. You are just sitting in AC rooms and enjoying the life. If you are so patriotic then you should join forces and protect the border of the country,” he challenged.
TRS lashes out at Kancha Ilaiah
The TRS on Sunday lashed out at writer Kancha Ilaiah for his controversial book. A host of MLAs and MPs including MP Balka Suman, MLAs Srinivas Goud, B Ganesh Gupta, G Balaraju and others asked Ilaiah to immediately withdraw his book as it is hurting the sentiments of a community. “The author himself should put an end to the controversy, but instead he making unnecessary comments on TV.”