Video of Rajyotsava awardee Mohandas Shenoy's comments on Muslims sparks outrage on social media
Mangaluru: A viral video of this year's Kannada Rajyotsava awardee Argodu Mohandas Shenoy making derogatory remarks about the Muslim community has sparked debate on social media.
The video clip from a Yakshagana presentation shows the artiste in the lead role of the episode, Vikramaditya, played by Argodu Mohandas Shenoy, belittling the community while speaking to a character resembling a Muslim.
Argodu is heard in the clip telling the Muslim, "This is the way your religion functions, changing everything… We write from left to right, you write from right to left… While we read the scriptures, you shout the name of Allah… What would we understand this to mean? That you aim to change everything, claiming that we did not say anything… But then, why have you not changed the place of eating?"
The artiste making the comments was confirmed to be 72-year-old Shenoy by four senior Yakshagana artistes, who wished to remain anonymous, when contacted by Vartha Bharati. Shenoy allegedly has been repeating such statements whenever he presents the character on stage. A fifth individual, who claimed to be associated with the art form for atleast two decades, also told Vartha Bharati has also confirmed the artiste making defamatory remarks in indeed Argodu Mohandas Shenoy and that the person presenting the character of the Muslim man in the episode was Ramesh Bhandary, a senior artiste from Badagutittu, the northern school Yakshagana.
The video clip has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with netizens expressing their anger regarding the statements made by the Yakshagana artiste in the role of Vikramaditya.
When contacted for comments, however, Shenoy said that he had not seen the video clip. Shenoy reportedly retired as a Yakshagana artiste two years ago.
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2 leopards captured in village near Bengaluru after fatal attack on woman
Bengaluru, Nov 26: A week after a 52-year-old woman was mauled to death by a leopard near Shivagange Hills in Nelamangala taluk, the Forest department has captured two leopards from Kambalu Gollarahatti village, officials said on Tuesday.
A seven-year-old male leopard was captured on Monday, followed by a nine-year-old female leopard on Tuesday from the same area, they said.
Blood and hair samples of the leopards have been collected and will be sent to the National Centre for Biological Sciences. DNA analysis will determine if either of the captured leopards was responsible for the fatal attack, a senior forest official said.
The victim, identified as Kariamma, was killed on November 17 while cutting grass in an agricultural field near her home. She was reportedly dragged into the forest by a leopard, which mauled her to death and consumed parts of her body.
In response, the Forest Department deployed large cages and installed eight pairs of camera traps around the area to track the leopards.
"Camera traps captured footprints of two male leopards and one female leopard. This enabled us to locate and capture the male and female leopards. Our teams are actively searching for the third male leopard whose footprints were recorded," the official added.
Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of residents and monitor wildlife in the region.
