Mysuru:  Magsaysay award-winning musician Vid. T.M. Krishna regretted that he had to perform in public now-a-days under Police security, which is not a good sign for this country at all.

He was addressing a press meet at the residence of musician Desikachar on New Kantharaj Urs Road in Kuvempunagar here yesterday and said that there was an atmosphere of fear in the country and he strongly held the right wing elements responsible for this kind of situation.

He pointed out that this kind of development had been seen in the last four years and everyone is aware of this. “It is the people at the helm of affairs who must try to put a brake to such happenings but sadly their silence encourages the followers and supporters to continue with their attacks and bulldozing everyone,” he said.

Vid. Krishna revealed that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 pointing to the heightened atmosphere of fear. But the PM had never bothered to reply but instead was keen on wishing the national and international leaders on their birthdays. “However, I will not write to the PM again,” he added.

On the opposition to his singing Muslim and Christian devotional songs on Allah and Jesus, by right wing elements, he said that after the protests surfaced, he has started composing poems every month on them and releasing it on the internet.

“Ours is a democratic country and everyone has a right to dissent. No one should be silenced just because one’s views are not in tune with the other,” said Krishna.

He was also very caustic in his remarks about the Sabiramala episode where the women of a certain age are being prevented entry into the temple.

Sarod Maestro Pt. Rajeev Taranath said that he stood by vocalist Krishna and his views completely. Former Minister B.K. Chandrashekar was present.

Earlier, to the support of the organisers of the Mysuru concert at Ganabharathi and at Suttur Mutt,  Krishna had said, “The organisers of the Mysuru concert have stepped in and said they’re not going to budge and the concert’s happening, which is fabulous. I have no problems with people disagreeing with me, coming to the venue and standing out there, and shouting slogans. Please do it. That’s your democratic right. But I don’t think anyone has the right to shut something down. That’s ugly.”