Shashi Deshpande resigns from Sahitya Akademi for silence over Kalburgi's murder

Acclaimed writer Shashi Deshpande on Friday resigned from Sahitya Akademi in protest of literary body's silence over Kannada writer M.M. Kalburgi's murder.

In a letter to Akademi's chairman, Deshpande stated that Akademi should stand up against growing intolerance in the nation.

She expressed hope that the literary body would involve itself in addressing crucial issues that affect Indian writers' 'freedom to speak and write'.

Earlier on Saturday, six writers had returned their Arulu Sahitya awards to the Kannada Sahitya Academy over the delay in the arrest of the accused in the murder of Kalburgi.

Writer Uday Prakash was the first to return his Sahitya Akademi award to protest the murder of Kalburgi.

The Dharwad police had earlier released sketches of two suspected assassins of Kalburgi, but since then, no firm action has been taken.

Professor Kalburgi was shot dead by unknown persons in Dharwad recently. He was rushed to the District Civil Hospital, but was declared dead by doctors.