Hyderabad: The famous Dalit thinker and writer Kancha Illaiah, in the eye of the storm over his latest book targeting the Arya Vysya or Bania community, has confined himself to his residence as a protest against death threats issued against him.
He took the step after his car was allegedly stoned by protesting members of the Arya Vysya community demanding a ban on the book.
The police has strengthened security around his house and said they will provide protection if he requests for the same.
The book “Samajika Smugglerlu Kommatollu” (Social Smugglers Vysyas) has sparked off protests both in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. State Arya Vysya Mahasangham has demanded a ban on the book and arrest of the author.
Members of the community have launched a hunger strike in Hanamakonda demanding action. “The book is derogatory and insulting for us. Our protest will continue till action is taken”, said K Rames, President of JAC in Hanamakonda.
The community however denied it was issuing death threats against Illaiah. “We only want the book to be banned”, said Srinivasulu Murthy, general body member of Mahasangham.
Kancha Illaiah has refused to make any changes to the title or content of the book. “Because of all these threats I am losing my faith in the system”, he said.
In a latest statement the author said that he had written the book to discharge his duty as a researcher and to underscore the need for reservation in private sector. “If the richest community does not have positive moral sentiment towards poorest and weakest people hurting that sentiment in the process of writing is unavoidable. If Vysyas that include many top industrialists take an initiative to give some token preferential treatment for the people I mentioned above he health of national economy certainly would improve”.
