Karnad threatens to quit jubilee council
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 16
Barely a day after the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat announced setting up of Golden Jubilee Development Council, a member of the council has threatened to withdraw from it for attacks on an artist by a Hindu group.
Actor Girish Karnad, who was named as one of the members of the council – which is to be headed by renowned scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar— has expressed shock over the attack on Jose Pereira’s exhibition recently.
“Let me say how deeply shocked I am to hear of the attacks by self-styled standard-bearers of Hindu culture on the works of Jose Pereira, a scholar and artist of eminence,” Karnad said in a letter to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti protested against an exhibition at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research (XCHR) which has on display some epiphanies of Hindu gods by Jose Pereira.
The groups have continued a sustained campaign branding the paintings “obscene and nude pictures” of Hindu gods. Following the protests the paintings were withdrawn.
“I am horrified that private vigilante groups should be permitted to take the law into their hands while the State stands mute and the police express inability to protect the exhibition of his work,” he continued.
“I would like to withdraw my name from the high level committee which you were kind enough to invite me to serve on since this is not the culture of Liberation I had hoped to celebrate,” Karnad said.
Kamat, in his Independence Day address, had said that Goa will be guided to the pinnacle of glory in the next 25 years by following the road map prepared by the Golden Jubilee Development Council.
The chief minister further elaborated on Goa Vision 2035, the vision document being prepared by the government for Goa to prepare a road map for 25 years ahead.
When contacted by Herald Kamat said he has no knowledge of the issue.
“I am in Hyderabad for some work and as such I have no knowledge of any such letter,” Kamat said in a telephonic conversation.
Karnad threatens to quit jubilee council
PANJIM, AUG 16 Barely a day after the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat announced setting up of Golden Jubilee Development Council, a member of the council has threatened to withdraw from it for attacks on an artist by a Hindu group.
