Centre encouraging intolerance, dictatorial tendencies, says Congress

The Congress Party on Tuesday cornered the NDA Government over Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma's 'Let (writers) stop writing, then we will see' remark, saying the philosophy of the ruling dispensation appeared to be encouraging intolerance, dictatorial tendencies and absolute mulish arbitrariness.

"Should the messenger ignore the message? That is the policy of this government. It is disgusting. It is a very big symbolic gesture, which is much more than mere symbol. It sends out a message that freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of action, philosophy is all at peril. This government philosophy encourages intolerance, dictatorial tendencies and absolute mulish arbitrariness," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi

"If this is this the kind of reaction by no less than a minister.., I think, god help this government," he added.

On Friday, acclaimed writer Shashi Deshpande had resigned from the Sahitya Academy, while other six writers returned their Arulu Sahitya awards to the Kannada Sahitya Academy on October 3 over the delay in the arrest of the accused in the murder of eminent Kannada writer, scholar, rationalist and academic, Kalburgi.