With the backlash and controversy around his book, "Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Komataollu- Societal smugglers)", refusing to die, writer and social scientist Kancha Ilaiah addressed media persons again on Friday.
Speaking at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Hyderabad, Kancha declared, “If I die, Arya Vysyas will be responsible for my death.”
Arya Vysya organisations have been holding protests in parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and burning the writer's effigies, seeking a ban on his book.
Kancha said he was ready to withdraw the book, but set some conditions.
“I am ready to withdraw my book. I am even prepared to change its name as ‘Arya Vysyas Social Servants’ if the community is prepared to implement 5 % quota for the marginalised sections in their establishments,” he was quoted as saying.
Stating that Arya Vysyas were involved in 64% of India’s economy, with the brokerage business, Kancha claimed that farmer suicides would be extinct in India, if the community donated 5% of what they donate to the BJP, to farmers
This comes one day after Telangana Irrigation Minister Harish Rao condemned the author’s alleged attempts to brand an entire race of people as ‘smugglers’.
“There are good and bad people in every community. Some spread love, while some spread hate. However, one can’t label a whole community in such a way. It is not good for any intellectual, and no intellectual will appreciate such efforts," the Minister said.
After receiving several threatening phone calls for days, Kancha, an academician, sought police protection last week, saying that he was facing a threat to his life.
Kancha has defended his book, telling reporters earlier, "Social Smuggling is a phrase. It is the economic process of exploitation, which means earning in business but not investing back into society."
He also said that the phrase was being taken out of context.
“No matter how much I am threatened or intimidated, my brain will not be scared by bullets and violence. I will continue to write on Ambedkarite and Dalit issues as long as I live," he added last week.