Bengaluru: A day after he stoked a controversy with his remarks on the occasion of Tipu Jayanti, veteran playwright, actor and litterateur, Girish Karnad on Wednesday 11 apologized for the statement he had made against Kempegowda.
In a statement released from his home at J P Nagar here, Karnad, a Jnanpith awardee, said that what he expressed was his personal opinion and that it was not backed by any evil intention. He said he was sorry if his remarks had hurt anyone.
The noted writer had expressed the opinion that Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru should have been named after Tipu Sultan. His remarks had come during the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan organized at the state secretariat on Tuesday November 10 in the presence of chief minister, Siddaramaiah. He had remarked that Kempegowda was not a freedom fighter like Tipu Sultan.
Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader, R Ashok, who is spearheading a campaign against the remarks of Karnad, who had also courted controversy with some previous remarks, said that he will continue to fight against the unkind remarks made by Karnad in spite of the apology offered.
“Karnad had made his remarks in a public meeting in Vidhana Soudha. If they were his personal opinions, they should have come at a private function. I hereby ask Karnad to come to Vidhan Soudha and make a public statement about his apology in the presence of chief minister,” Ashok stated.
(Agencies)
