Noted Hindi writer and convener of Panun Kashmir, Dr Agnishekhar, rejected the state award for his book to protest “exodus and ethnic cleansing” of Kashmiri Hindus.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s outburst against the Kashmiri pandit leaders claimed the first casualty when noted Hindi writer and convener of Panun Kashmir, Dr Agnishekhar, rejected the state award for his book to protest “exodus and ethnic cleansing” of Kashmiri Hindus.
Jammu and Kashmir State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages had recently conferred the Best Book Award on Dr Agnishekhar’s fourth poetry collection Jawahar Tunnel. The award Rs51,000 cash, and a memento.
“Omar has been hurting the sentiments of exiled community pointedly. Sometimes he say pandits are divided house, sometimes he says there is no ethnic cleansing. He is repeating his biased and insensitive outbursts in the national media against my exiled people, which is already victimized. Therefore, as a conscious writer, I reject this reward as a mark of protest”, said Dr Agnishekhar.
The noted writer said though this (State Cultural Academy) award is being given by the state academy of which the chief minister happens to be the president, he holds the successive state governments responsible for the continued policy of neglect and apathy towards the victims of Jihadi terrorism in the valley.
“I refuse to accept this award from the chief minister who is seen inclined towards the fundamentalist forces that have rejected the secular value system and cultural co-existence in the valley. In the capacity of a conscientious writer, it will be unethical for me to receive this Literary Award from the hands of Omar Abdullah. I value the peoples love and appreciation of my literature and treat it as the highest award”, he said.
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