Even as Maharashtra is yet to come to terms with the shocking murders of rationalist Narenda Dabholkar and Communist leader Govind Pansare, well known activist-writer Dr. Bharat Patankar, on Wednesday, received death threats.
Dr. Patankar received the threat in the form of a letter, sent along with a copy of chauvinist-nationalist periodical Sanatan Prabhat’s letterhead, reports said.
The letter accused Patankar of backing rationalists and Muslims, and warned him against it.
His decision to accept the leadership of an organisation named ‘Vidrohi Sammelan’, parallel to the Sahitya Sammelan, was also criticised in the letter.
Reports added that the letter was postmarked Kolhapur.
An English newspaper quoted Patankar as saying that the letters had earlier warned him against going Dhabolkar-Pansare way and the latest letter said that “it would be his turn next”.
“I had previously received letters warning me not to go the Dabholkar-Pansare way. The recent letters said after Dr. Dabholkar and Comrade Pansare, it would be my turn next,” Dr. Patankar said.
