Ilaiah Condemns T G Venkatesh's Fatwa To Hang Him

Controversial writer and dalit activist Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd today condemned what he claimed was an attack by TDP MP T G Venkatesh on American democracy and civilization, after the MP asked whether the Americans would tolerate it if someone attacked their ancestors, religion or culture.

The MP had done that after a US Senator, H Trent Franks, brought up the "attacks" on Ilaiah in the Senate, specifically the comment by MP that Ilaiah should be hanged in the streets for his book "Samajika Smugglerlu Komatollu".

Talking to mediapersons on Saturday, Ilaiah said, "This kind of attack on an America Senator will put the entire Non-Resident Indian community, and particularly the NRIs of the two Telugu states, in great risk."

He also asked AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to explain his stand on the outbursts of Venkatesh. Why was Naidu not suspending the MP from the party and not writing to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha that his membership of the House be cancelled after Venkatesh had publicly said that he (Ilaiah) should be hanged.

The Western democracy, more particularly the American democracy, was very serious about guarding the freedom of speech of individuals and writers, and more than anybody else Chandrababu Naidu should understand this basic fact, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also understand that the "fatwa" of Venkatesh would mar the image of India worldwide, Iliaiah said.