Kambar to skip Belgaum event after threat

BELGAUM: Jnanpith Award winner and Kannada writer Chandrashekhar Kambar has cancelled his December 7 Belgaum meet due to threats from pro-Maharashtrians, who are protesting against the writer for his stand on the Kannada language. Kambar was to take part in a felicitation function organised by Naganur Math.Kambar, as a college  student at Belgaum, had stayed in the Math’s hostel for three years. Naganur Math had decided to felicitate its old hostel student by presenting him a 16 gram gold medal.Kambar was also expected to participate in a felicitation function on the same day organised at Sankeshwar by former minister A B Patil.However, a top police officer of Bangalore advised Kambar not to attend the Belgaum function citing a “tense” atmosphere at Belgaum. The officer also told Kambar not to leave Bangalore for the next 15 days for security reasons.When Express contacted Kambar, he confirmed that the top police officer advised him not to move out of Bangalore for the next two weeks. He said he did not wish to inconvenience the administration and organisers.When Express contacted Belgaum Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil, he said that the police would provide protection to Kambar if the programme was held. However, he said Belgaum police had not sent any report to Bangalore warning of “untoward” incidents if Kambar visited Belgaum.Naganur Swamiji said invitation cards for the function were already circulated in Belgaum and elsewhere. He said the Math had planned to felicitate Kambar in a grand  manner as he was its old student.The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti is protesting against Kambar, who had said that in Karnataka only Kannada should get importance, and the name “Belgaum” should be changed to “Belagavi”.