Raj govt will support lit fest organised by state academies

The Rajasthan government will provide all support to literature festivals organised by state academies, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said today.
Addressing 'Amrit Samman Samaroh-2013' organised by Rajasthan Sahitya Academy here, Gehlot said the government was ready to sponsor such programmes and no multi-national companies would be in the picture.
Jaipur Literature Festival has no doubt gained popularity in the country and abroad but the way it is being sponsored by multi-national companies should be a matter of concern, he said.
"The government is ready to provide support if our state's literary academies would organise such event," he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Gehlot said the government wished to promote local authors and it would sponsor literature festival if organised by the state's academies.

He also refuted charges of irregularity in tendering process for procurement of laptops for meritorious students, levelled by BJP Secretary Kirit Somaiya.
Somaiya alleged yesterday that tender conditions were amended to benefit a foreign company.