Bajrang Dal turns heat on literary fest speakers

Tribune News Service
Solan, October 23

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Taking exception to the utterances made by certain writers and historians on the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K and other contentious issues like mob-lynching in the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival at Kasauli, the Bajrang Dal has lodged a complaint with the police seeking action against speakers.

Earlier, a section of BJP leaders, including former Shimla MP Virender Kashyap, had also raised voice against the sentiments expressed by certain writers and also sent a complaint to the Prime Minister.

Bajrang Dal activists Pawan Samella, Sanjiv Kumar Parashar, Devinder Chandel and others also sent a complaint to the Home Minister, Chief Minister, Governor, Solan DC and SP.

They alleged that during the literary festival on October 11, writer Tavleen Singh and other speakers raised questions against the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K and demanded re-enforcement of the Article, besides seeking apology from the Kashmiris. The speakers also sought intervention of the apex court and condemned the Union Government for this act.

The complaint further mentioned that author Radha Kumar had stated that the people of Kashmir wanted independence and they did not accept the orders of the Centre. The complaint also said the author had stated that normalcy would only return in J&K after the decision was rolled back.

The Bajrang Dal activists also stated that historian Sadia Delvi had stated that Khushwant Singh loved Pakistan and for him the country was not divided by boundaries and that he also wanted the reconstruction of the Babri mosque.

They further stated that Tavleen Singh’s statement on mob-lynching had hurt the sentiments of the Hindus. The writers by criticising the abrogation of Article 370 had tried to incite the people against the government. They also said the speakers had supported Pakistan and by doing so they had insulted the martyred soldiers.

SP, Solan, Madhusudan Sharma said he had received the complaint and was examining it.