Mangalore : Few academicians and scholars who witnessed the Hindutva activists indulging in bursting crackers and celebrating the death of Jnanapith awardee U R Ananthamurthy on August 23, Friday expressed their displeasure over activities through social networking sites.

Condemning the act, Dakshina Kannada units of Congress committee, Youth Congress and National Students Union of India (NSUI) staged a demonstration at the Clock Tower junction near Town Hall.

Speaking on the occasion, KPCC general secretary and MLC Ivan D’Souza said that, the whole state is mourning for losing such an eminent writer Ananthamurthy, whereas Hindu outfits are celebrating his death is an insult to the district. He urged the government to exile the Hindu outfits from the district a case should be registered against them.

Congress district committee member K Taranath Shetty, urged the Government to book Goonda Act against the people and organization participates in disrespectful acts. The saffron groups such as Bajrang Dal should be banned in the state, he added.

Later the demonstrators paid their tributes to the late Kannada writer and observed silence to pay homage and burnt effigy symbolizing the saffron group.

Youth Congress district president Mithun Rai, NSUI district president Ashith Pereira, Congress members Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present.