Writer Ananthamurthy given security cover after threats from NaMo brigade

Renowned Kannada writer and Jnanpith awardee U R Ananthamurthy has been given police protection following threat perception over his remark that he would leave the country if Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister.

“Security was deployed at Ananthamurthy’s residence after an oral request by him in the wake of a ‘threat pereception’ over his remark,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant said.

A group called the NaMo Brigade had sent a travel itinerary to the writer to Karachi for May 17, soon after the Lok Sabha poll results were announced. The writer, however, changed his stand later and said he was emotionally overwhelmed while making the statement. “It was too much to say because I can’t go anywhere except India,” Ananthamurthy had said. “This time I think Modi was so attractive to the young, who desired a strong nation like a growing China, America or any other country. There is something of a national spirit and that I think brought him to power. But basically I am a critic of nationalism because quite a few lies can spread on the basis of nationalism,” he told reporters.

Ananthamurthy said he wanted a supple nation, instead of a strong nation, because the latter can break like Germany and Japan. “I don’t want a strong nation. I want a supple nation. A strong nation can break. We know what has happened to Germany,” he said.