Mysuru: Decrying the attempts of some to distort history, multi-lingual actor Prakash Raj said that Right wing ideologies are only a temporary phase and movements such as Bhima Chaitanya can withstand it.

He was speaking after inaugurating  the 205th anniversary (1.1.1818) of Bhima Koregaon Vijayotsava celebration organised by Jai Bhima Koregaon Vijayotsava Samiti, in association with various other organisations near Jayanagar Railway Gate here yesterday.

Maintaining that those who have knowledge of history only can create history, Prakash Raj regretted that those who do not know history are now distorting it for meeting their selfish ends and also for promotion of their own agenda. Asserting that the Koregaon victory was a matter of pride, he bemoaned that Bhima Koregaon activists were sent to jail for their activism.

Lashing out at Rightists for distorting history, the actor ridiculed the claims made by those in power regarding Veer Savarkar, the benefits of Gou Mutra (Cow Urine) and such others.

Terming the Rightists as selfie parties, Prakash Raj said that he wanted to remind that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had externed such elements. But it is ironical that such elements have now built a Sardar Patel statue and posed for selfies standing in front of the statue, he said, adding that such elements must always remember that repeated telling of lies cannot hide facts and truth.

Writer Prof. O.L. Nagabhushanaswamy, who delivered a special talk, said that Chavdar Lake (Mahad Satyagraha) Water Movement was organised under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar much before Mahatma Gandhi launched the Salt Satyagraha Movement. But it is really unfortunate that such movements and the Bhima Koregaon Battle have not found a place in school curriculum, he lamented.

Former Mayor Purushottam too spoke on the occasion. Earlier, floral tributes were offered to the Bhima Koregaon Vijayasthambha (Victory tomb).

Bodhidatta Banteji of Nalanda Buddha Peetha, writer Prof. Kalegowda Nagawara, Corporator Pallavi Begum, Mysuru Bar Association President M. Mahadevaswamy, Secretary S. Umesh, Social Worker R.C. Mahesh, Vijayotsava Samiti office-bearer Jayaraj Hegde, retired Police Inspector P.M. Siddaraju, Nelehinnele Gopal, Nagesh and others were present.