DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said it was highly condemnable that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor the Centre had come out with an explanation even after so many writers across the country returned their Sahitya Akademi awards to express their protest against the killing of Kannada writer M.M. Kulburgi.
Recalling the return of the Sahitya Akademi award by Nayantara Saghal that led to other writers giving up their awards and 16 Tamil Sahitya Akademi winning writers condemning the Akademi, Mr. Karunanidhi said the government should not come to the conclusion that politics had nothing to do with protecting freedom of expression.
“The government should commit itself to protect freedom of expression as it is a basic democratic principle,” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi also questioned the silence on the part of the Sahitya Akademi, wondering whether it was afraid of antagonising the government. “Ever since the BJP came to power, those in responsible position remain silent even when they are expected to express their views. If those who are in power remain mute spectators when there is an attack on India's diversity and pluralism it would create a black chapter,” he said.
“The government should commit itself to protect freedom of expression as it is a basic democratic principle”
