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Uncultured remarks: Mahesh Sharma first suspects writers' motives, then says misquoted

“There Have Been So Many Riots Earlier. When Did They (writers) Last Return Their Awards? Was Misquoted, I Said Writers Should Raise Their Voice On Right Platform; It's Their Choice If They Wish To Write Or Not,' Sharma Stated.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Devika Chhibber | Updated on: 13 Oct 2015, 05:30:36 PM

New Delhi :

Union Cultural Minister and Member of Parliament from Noida once again stoked controversy in writers issue after giving a curious twist by saying he suspected their motives for such “not called for” action.

On Tuesday Sharma was making a statement against writers for returning Sahitya Akademi Awards in protest against “rising intolerance” in the country

He commented, “If you go back to people, who have done this and if we explore their motives and what has been their background, I think something revealing will come out.”

However, when questioned by media on Tuesday, the minister refrained and said that he was misquoted.

“There have been so many riots earlier. When did they (writers) last return their awards? Was misquoted, I said writers should raise their voice on right platform; it's their choice if they wish to write or not,” Sharma stated.

He added, “The platform opted by writers to register protest wrong, these awards not given by Govt but by a group of littérateurs. These awards conferred on writers by autonomous body which doesn't have any political person/Minister as part of committee.”

His remarks came amid a slew of eminent writers returning their awards protesting against “rising intolerance” in the country.

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First Published : 13 Oct 2015, 11:23:00 AM

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