Writers returning awards 'not publicity stunt': CPI

Reacting on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's 'ideologically intolerant' remark on writers, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Thursday said writers are not doing all this for publicity.

Array

"Writers are not doing all this for fun or for the sake of some publicity; it is not a manufactured crisis. It is a crisis which India is passing through. Never before, we have witnessed such intolerance in this country. So, it is not a crisis manufactured, the reaction is not a manufactured one, for the sake of opposition or for the sake of undermining Modi's government, or for the sake of publicity. They are very much hurt and their reflection must be understood in a proper perspective," Raja told ANI.

"In social realm, it is like counter revolution that is sweeping across the country. Everywhere you find communal conflicts, witnessing social conflicts and behind all of this it is a fact that there are fundamental elements particularly to who have allegiance to RSS and Sangh Parivar," he added.

He further added that the government should understand that the deepening crisis is getting worse, and can lead to many difficulties for the country.

Array

Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday lashed out at the writers who returned their Sahitya Akademi awards, saying they are the ones who are ideologically intolerant.

Dozens of writers have returned their awards in the last few weeks in a protest against the growing intolerance under the Prime Minister Modi led-NDA Government.