Actor and playwright Girish Karnad has apologised after receiving death threats for his comment on Tipu Sultan. Karnad had recommended that the Kempegowda International Airport be renamed after Tipu Sultan.
As he remained in the eye of a storm, Karnad sought to end the controversy, saying, “If anybody has been hurt by my remarks, I apologise...what will I gain by making them (such comments).”
He said he had only expressed his views and there was no ulterior motive. His remarks drew strong criticism and protests from different quarters. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government has nothing to do with the remarks made by Karnad at a state government-organised function to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan.
“They are his personal remarks. The government does not have any connection to the remarks made by Karnad,” Siddaramaiah said, as he also came under criticism for not rebutting the Jnanpith awardee immediately at the function itself.
Siddaramaiah also said it was a mistake on Karnad’s part to have made such remarks.
I do not know why Girish Karnad made such a remark. I was also there (when he made the remark), I wanted to counter it but I did not do so.Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah also said there was no question of renaming Kempegowda International Airport saying, “A decision had already been taken to name BIAL Kempegowda - there arises no question of replacing Kempegowda’s name given to Bengaluru International Airport.”
(With PTI inputs)
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