81st Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana: Ranebennur, Haveri may reach pact

HUBLI: After KannadaSahityaParishat (KSP) state president PundalikHalambi’s decision to withdraw holding the 81stAkhilaBharataKannadaSahityaSammelana from Haveri, both parties of Haveri and Ranebennur that were fighting to host the event may reach a truce.
After battling each other for six months, feuding factions from Ranebennur and Haveri are now arriving at a pact to hold the prestigious event in Haveri itself.Speaking to TOI, Rajashekhar J M, a life member of KSP, who has been fighting to hold the event in Ranebennur for a decade, told that now their priority is to hold the Sammelana in the district itself. “Though Haveri does not have basic amenities on par with Ranebennur, we would like to support our Haveri counterparts in hosting the event to avoid any negative fallout in case it is shifted to another district. Some of our members don’t want financial support extended if the event is held in Haveri but we are talking it out to retain the event in the district,” he explained.
Y B Aladakatti, president of KSP, Haveri taluk unit, said that if the Ranebennur and Haveri organizers reach an emotional understanding, Haveri will definitely hold the event.
When asked about incentive to Ranebennur organizers for sacrificing the event, he assured that they will be vested with prime responsibilities for holding event. “Now district KSP has the responsibility of rebuilding confidence among organizers of both taluks,” he said.
Loss will be a setback
When contacted, district KSP G B Masanagi, who was rooting for Ranebennur, confirmed that attempts to retain the Sammelana in the district began on Tuesday. “Both parties have realized that if event goes to another district, it will be a great setback for the district. Opportunity of holding such a prestigious event comes to a district once in 3-5 decades. We have think practically rather than let sentiments add to our differences,” he added.
Meetings between the two groups continued till late night on Tuesday.
If all goes well, it will put a cap on a simmering dispute that has been on for six months.
Haveri and Ranebennur taluks had observed a day’s shutdown last month seeking rights to host the event. Irked by the developments, KSP state executive committee had taken the decision to withdraw the event from Haveri district on Sunday evening. State KSP president had said that a new venue would be decided at the executive committee meeting in Hospet on September 28.