Bhoota Kola row: Dalits, activists stand in support of Chetan

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: After facing protests and police complaints over his alleged ‘unsavoury’ remarks on the Bhoota Kola ritual, actor turned activist Chetan Kumar ‘Ahimsa’ received huge support from several Dalit organisations and religious leaders in the city.

A few of Kumar’s supporters reached his residence on Saturday morning, pledging their support over his stand that Bhoota Kola is actually a ritual of spirit worship practiced in coastal Karnataka and is not a part of the Hindu culture as claimed by the ‘Kantara’ movie actor-director Rishab Shetty in his interview.

According to sources, the supporters of Chetan Kumar held up his posters outside his residence, raising pro-slogans in his support. The controversy erupted on Tuesday after Kumar’s response to Rishab Shetty that Bhoota Kola was not a part of Hinduism.

Following this, the right-wing outfit Hindu Jagaran Vedike lodged a police complaint against Kumar for allegedly ‘hurting’ religious sentiments in the Udupi district on Friday. Vijayapura BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal even called Kumar ‘worthless’ and an agent of ‘Muslims.’ However, many activists from Dalit and other organisations came out in support of Chetan Kumar