Akkai rejected Karnataka Sahitya Academy post, asked for MLC or MP post

Bengaluru: A day after his appointment as a member of the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi by the state government, renowned transgender activist Akkai Padmashali has requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to remove his name from the academy.

Instead, members of the transgender community should be given representation in the Karnataka Legislature and the upper houses of Parliament, urged Akkai, who is also a Congress member. In her letter to both the leaders, she thanked the state government for the honour, but said, “I am known for my fight against social stigma in society for members of the trans community. My fight against this will continue. I request you (Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar) to remove me from the academy.

He appealed to them to be nominated to any upper house to be part of the law making process to fight stigma against the community. “The state is now witnessing Sarva Janangada Shanti Thota, where people from all communities are treated equally. From now on, members of the transgender community should be included in the House.