more-in Admirers of Alva’s Education Foundation Chairman Mohan Alva on Saturday sought tough action against those involved in a smear campaign against Mr. Alva in the wake of the death of Class 10 student Kavya Poojary. At a meeting at the Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, people from a cross-section of society, including artists, academics, writers and representatives of social organisations, resolved to raise voice against forces “trying to tarnish the image of Mr. Alva and his institutions”. Writer Vaidehi said that the campaign looks “like shooting one’s gun from Kavya’s shoulders”. She said that the two who are most saddened over the death of Kavya were her parents and Mr. Alva, who desired to make his student a champion sportsperson. It was disheartening to see certain organisations using the death of Kavya to tarnish the image of Mr. Alva, who is striving to build a generation of youth with good cultural, social and literary outlook. The number of destroyers is always more than the those who build, she said and added that those speaking ill of Mr. Alva should spend time on Alva’s campus to learn of the work he was doing. Nitte University Chancellor Vinay Hegde said that the vicious campaign is a bad example to destroy good work done for all-round development of children. Criticising MLC V.S. Ugrappa for talking irrelevant issues unconnected to the death, Mr. Hegde asked, “Were these necessary when the investigation was on?” He was also critical of politicians who rushed to Kavya’s house but did not spare a thought to talk to Mr. Alva, who was equally saddened. Academic M.B. Puranik said that he knows the pain of Kavya’s parents as he himself went through it following his 16-year-old son’s suicide in 1991. “I know how it hurts. As a parent, I could not read the mind of my son,” Mr. Puranik said. Despite advice from people to take on the institution concerned, he desisted from going to court only not to affect its reputation, he added. Artist Kasaragod Chinna said that there should be a strong reply to forces that are needlessly targeting Mr. Alva. Buntara Yane Nadavara Matru Sangha president Ajith Kumar Rai Malady said that they will stand united with Mr. Alva.

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