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Breach of privilege motion against playwright

Political playwright, Professor G P Deshpande, who was caught in the eye of a literary storm barely a month ago following his remarks against Jnanpith award-winner V S Khandekar, has now incurred the Maharashtra legislative council's wrath.

Filing a breach of privilege motion against him, the members of the state's upper house allege that Professor Deshpande had written a 'scurrilous article' about a debate in the legislative council last year. The article on Lilacharitra was published in the Economic and Political Weekly on May 6, 1997.

Moving the breach of privilege proposal, Bharatiya Janata Party member Professor Ashok Modak said the litterateur made objectionable statements against the honourable members.

Professor Modak contended that the author, in his article Literary Heritage in the Dock, has attacked the freedom of speech of the members besides making objectionable remarks against BJP and the Shiv Sena members.

Deputy Chairman Professor N S Pharande said the House has unanimously decided to refer the matter to the special privilege committee. The names of the author of the article, the editor, printer and publisher of the magazine have been included in the privilege motion.

''I have thoroughly scrutinised the members's suggestions, the objectionable article attached to it and the explanations offered by the author and the editor,'' he said. ''It would have been better if the author, considering his eminence and experience, had not resorted to mudslinging against the members of the Upper House apart from endorsing the views of the late V B Kotte in his book Lilacharitra.

"What is worse, Professor Deshpande said the BJP and the Sena members are ingorant of the subject and that they don't understand any other language besides Hindi. His statement -- 'the members are so ignorant about literary matters that they have axed the whole matter -- is recklessly scurrilous. What is more serious is EPW editor Krishna Raj's apology which is a case of medicine being more dangerous than the disease. The same is true of Professor Deshpande's explanation.''

Compiled by Prasanna D Zore from the Marathi media

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