NEW DELHI: O.Y. Vijayan, renowned cartoonist and literature, has remained untraceable for the past few days from his residence following the threatening calls from unknown persons. Repeated enquiries at his Chanakyapuri residence have evoked no response. However, friends and admirers of the renowned novelist said that he had gone into hiding to avoid carrying out the ‘threats.’ It was on Jan.25 that an anonymous caller told him to stop *denigration’ of the Hindu cause or face ‘dire’ consequences.

Vijayan, who is at a safe place in Delhi, has been writing several articles expressing his views on the demolition of the Babri Masjid by the BJP workers on Dec.6. Among them was a write-up in The Times of India. Other Kerala journals, including the Malayalam edition of India Today, had also carried his articles. Eminent historian, Dr.K.N.Panicker, when contacted said Vijayan had called him a week back, and appeared quite perturbed over the threats, Among those have been getting similar threats are Dr.Panickerand Dr.Romilla Thappar.

The warning from the BJP’s ‘Hindutva’ activists come in the form of telephone calls, crudely written hand bills and individual letters in different languages.

Some of them even charge them with taking Arab money for attacking the Hinduism.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 5, 1993