Prominent writers and poets, who have returned their Sahitya Akademi awards, are staging a protest march in Delhi, ahead of the cultural body’s emergency meeting to discuss the returning of awards and resignation of authors.
Writers from across the country gathered at Shri Ram Centre near Mandi House and marched towards Sahitya Akademi in the capital, wearing black ribbons on their heads as a sign of protest.
About 100 writers are participating in the peaceful march to protest against increasing intolerance in the country.
Over 40 writers and poets have returned their awards in protest against the Akademi’s silence over recent cases of rising intolerance ranging from the murder of rationalist MM Karaburgi to lynching of a man in Dadri for allegedly storing beef.
Meanwhile, the Sahitya Akademi meeting has ended with writers and poets who have returned their awards.
While condemning the cases of attacks on writers, Sahitya AKademi has urged the intellectuals to take back their awards.
“We all condemn the killing of MM Kalburgi. We have unanimously decided that writers who have returned awards should take them back and people who have resigned should join back,” executive member of Sahitya Akademi Dr. Krishnaswamy Nachimuthu said.