Narendra Modi fans send money to Ananthamurthy, ask him to quit India

Mangalore Today /DHNS

New Delhi, Sep 20, 2013: Eminent writer and Jnanpeeth award recipient UR Ananthamurthy is getting money orders from Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi fans these days.

Enraged over the 81-year-old internationally acclaimed Kannada writer’s statements against Modi, his fans have started collecting money by using social media platform to buy him a "one way ticket" out of India.

Speaking to IBNLive.com on Wednesday, Ananthamurthy said that he did not want to live in a country ruled by Narendra Modi. He had expressed displeasure over the attitude of Modi fans, who attack anybody who criticises their leader’s capabilities.

Ananthamurthy, a highly respected writer and a public intellectual had said, "I won’t live in a country ruled by Modi. When I was young, I used to criticise former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. But, his supporters never attacked us. They always respected our views. Modi supporters are now behaving like Fascists. They are behaving like the Fascists in Germany during Hitler. I don’t want to see a man like Modi in the chair, where once a man like Nehru sat and ruled. I am too old and unwell. If Modi becomes the PM, it will be a big shock to me. I won’t live."

His statement went viral on social media attracting a deluge of criticism from Modi fans. Some highly uncilivised and threatening in nature. Many Modi admirers started offering monetary help to the ailing writer to leave India. Many offered to buy a one way ticket to a foreign country. Reacting to this Ananthamurthy said, "Their reaction is shocking. It is scary. If it is not fascism, then what is fascism? If it is the situation even before the elections, what will happen, if Modi comes to power?" Ananthamurthy fans and liberal intellectuals have strongly condemned the ’uncivilised’ attack on him.