A programme by Pakistani poet Abbas Tabish scheduled for Monday at the Ajmer Literature Festival was cancelled after right-wing groups warned of protests.
The programme, ‘ Shayari: Sarhad ke Par ’ (Poetry beyond borders), organised by the Ajmer Literary Society in which Mr. Tabish was to participate, was cancelled after Ajmer district BJP president Arvind Yadav met the organisers and warned them about the prevailing atmosphere owing to the Jawaharlal Nehru University issue.
Coordinator of the festival Rasbihari Gaur told The Hindu : “Mr. Yadav met us [the organisers] and asked us to cancel the programme owing to the current tensions over the JNU row. He warned us that if the programme was not cancelled, right-wing groups would stage protests against the participation of the Pakistani poet.”
Though the programme was initially postponed, it was cancelled on Monday.
The Hindu tried to reach Mr. Yadav but he was not available for comment.
