Renowned journalist P Sainath returns Basavashree Award conferred to him by Shri Murugha Mutt
Says returning award in solidarity with survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Chief Pontiff of Mutt
Bengaluru: Senior Journalist and Founder-Editor of People’s Archive of Rural India, P Sainath on Friday returned his Basavashree Award conferred to him by the Shir Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga.
In an official statement, Sainath said that he was returning the award in solidarity with the minor girls who have alleged that they were sexually abused by the Chief Pontiff of the Mutt Shri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.
The Chief Pontiff is facing charges under the POCSO Act after two high school students approached an NGO and explained their ordeal leading to the NGO filing a police complaint against the pontiff.
“No words are strong enough to condemn any such offences against children. In solidarity with the survivors and with the cause of Justice in this case, I hereby return the Basavashree award (and the Rs. 5 lakhs prize money that came with it, by cheque) conferred on me by the Math in 2017.” Sainath said in his statement.
“I would like to record my appreciation of the efforts of the Mysuru-based NGO "OdaNadi" to bring the awful incidents to light and their decades-long fight against social evils. And I appeal to the Karnataka government to pursue the investigation into the scandal vigorously and not allow that to be compromised on any grounds whatsoever.” He further added.
Shri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru was arrested by the cops on Wednesday evening in connection with the case, seven days after the complaint was filed against him. On Friday, the court sent him to police custody till September 5.
He was produced on Friday in a local court, where the police sought five days' custody.
The seer wrapped himself in a white cloth around his saffron attire and was taken in a wheelchair to the court.
Thick security cover was given all over the place right from the hospital, where he was taken after he complained of chest pain, to the court with barricades on key roads along the way.
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Two-year-old child suffering burns from hot tea spill dies at Mangaluru hospital
Shivamogga: A toddler who had suffered serious burns, by an accidental spill of hot tea over him, at Hiremane near Hosanagara died on Friday. He was being treated at a private hospital in Mangaluru.
The deceased is identified as Atharva (2), son of Rajesh and Ashwini. The incident happened when Ashwini had prepared some tea for visiting relatives who had come to attend the funeral of a neighbor. Unfortunately, Atharva had crept near the tea vessel without anybody being aware and had upturned its hot contents on himself.
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The seriously injured toddler had been rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru where he was being treated for the past week. However, the child breathed its last in the early hours of Friday without responding to any treatments, sources stated.
