A protest march, condemning the revision of school textbooks by a committee headed by Rohith Chakrathirtha, began at Kavishaila, a memorial of poet Kuvempu at Kuppali in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka, on June 15 morning. About 200 people, led by former Education Minister Kimmane Rathnakar, participated in the march from Kuppali to Thirthahalli.
Noted lyricist and music director Hamsalekha flagged off the march. “People of Karnataka would not tolerate insult to icons of the land — Basavanna and Kuvempu, among others. The protest would send a strong message to those insulted Kannada language and the flag,” he told the participants.
Writer S.G. Siddaramaiah, columnist B. Chandre Gowda, Sringeri MLA T.D. Raje Gowda, journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu and many others are participating in the march.
KPCC president D.K. ShivaKumar, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition in the Council B.K. Hariprasad and others were expected to take part in the valedictory of the march later in the day at Thirthahalli.