The central executive committee of SFI expresses its deep shock and condemnation of the dastardly killing of Prof. MM Kalburgi, a left intellectual and a former Vice Chancellor of the Hampi University by the Sangh Parivar fascists at his residence in Dharwad, Karnataka on Sunday, 30th August. The most renowned Kannada scholar, writer and a strong voice of secularism Prof. Kalburgi in no doubt was a threat to the communal agendas of saffron brigade. The attackers knocked on the door and when opened, they shot Kalburgi on the forehead and chest at point blank range. The hindutva-right wing forces had earlier attacked his house with stones and soda bottles in 2013. He was warned by the same communal forces after he raised his voice against idol worship and blind beliefs and superstitions prevalent in Hindu society. Prof. Kalburgi was a champion of scientific temper and rational thought.
The scientific temper and rational thought is under a severe attack at a time when the central government itself stands against it. Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and now Kalburgi, all men of intense intellect have became martyrs in the ongoing battle in which the voices unreason and obscurantism want to silence all the voices of reason. Each martyrdom will only inspire to intensify the fight for secularism. We demand the Karnataka government to take immediate actions to arrest the culprits behind this heinous crime. We request each and every democratic and progressive sections in this country to rally together to defeat religious nationalism. SFI calls upon all its units across the nation to rise up against the murder of Prof. MM Kalburgi and organize protest meetings and programs to carry forward the fight of Prof. Kalburgi for secularism and rationality.
Released by
Dr. V Sivadasan, President Ritabrata Banerjee MP, General Secretary
