CAA: Threat letters sent to Raj, Karat, ex-CM HDK, 13 others

BENGALURU: Well-known multi-lingual actor and activist Prakash Raj, Communist leader Brinda Karat and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy have been threatened with death for opposing communal forces of the ‘Sangh Parivar.’

The threat was posted in a letter penned in Kannada on Raj’s Twitter handle dated yesterday, the actor said in a post on Sunday.

It is addressed to Nijagunanada Swamiji, a prominent anti-communal crusader and an outspoken voice against the RSS and its affiliates.

The anonymous handwritten letter has warned that all the persons named therein would be “definitely eliminated” starting January 29.

The letter warned that the auspicious time (muhurtham) for the elimination (samhara) of all these “traitors” (deshdrohis) has been fixed starting from January 29 onwards.

“Be prepared for your last journey. You are not alone. You have to prepare them (the others in the list) also for their last journey. We will definitely eliminate all of you”, warned the unidentified person/s.

The others on the threat list include former Bajrang Dal leader Mahendra Kumar, Nijagunanada Asuri Swami, Nidumamidi Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swami (Asuri), Prakash Raj (actor), Gyanaprakash Asuri Swami, Chetan Kumar (actor). B.T. Lalita Naik, Prof. Maheshchandra Guru and Prof. Bhagwan (both Mysore), Dinesh Amin Mattu, Chandrashekar Patil, Dundi Ganesh, Rowdi Agni Sridhar, Brinda Karat and H.D. Kumaraswamy (former CM).

Commenting on the letter, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai told ANI that HD Kumaraswamy will be provided additional security and investigation will take place.

“I have asked for an inquiry into the matter. The security which was given to B. S. Yediyurappa when he was the former chief minister of the state, the same level of security is being given to HD Kumaraswamy and Sidaramaiah which is a Z category security,” said Bommai.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat called the group which had sent it “cowards” and said this will not stop their work. 

The other personalities named in the hit list have not reacted so far.