Prakash Raj, soon after the murder of Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh, began writing a column for the newspaper Udayavani, often against Hindutva politics. While his column titled ‘Irudellavu Bittu’ was hugely popular, the newspaper has discontinued it as of January 4. The actor took to social media, addressing the “invisible hands” behind the discontinuation, ending it with his classic hashtag #JustAsking.
Surgical strike?..my popular column in Kannada has been abruptly stopped . Dear INVISIBLE HANDS..do you think we can’t see you..#justasking pic.twitter.com/stycf4TxkJ
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 4, 2018
The newspaper’s editor, Shiva Subramanya, who became the editor recently, instead said that the newspaper was looking for new writers.
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Speaking to The News Minute, the new editor said that they had to change the team and wanted to give a chance to new writers.”It is a routine exercise in every newspaper. What is special in it? There is no hidden agenda, you have to ask him what it is. Every newspaper across the globe, whether it is in Kannada or English or any other language, does it,” he said.
Prakash Raj’s last column for the newspaper was published on December 24, 2017, and was more along the lines of friendship and love, as opposed to politics.
Udayavani is over 40 years old and is one of the leading Kannada daily newspapers with editions in Manipal, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hubballi and Gulbarga.