19, Oct 2015

PTI
Varanasi, October 18, 2015
Eminent author Kashinath Singh has protested the “irresponsible” remarks made by various Union Ministers against fellow Sahitya Akademi award-winning writers who have, over the past two weeks, announced their decision to return the honours.
Telugu writer Katyayani Vidmahe has also announced her decision to return her 2013 Kendriya Sahitya Akademi translation award in solidarity with other authors who have given back their awards.
‘Writers’ decision not taken seriously’
Mr. Singh said he will hand over the 2011 award he received for his fiction Rehan Par Raghu, along with a cheque to Akademi on Monday.
“Certain Ministers from the Centre have made irresponsible remarks against the authors who returned their awards. The authors’ decision has not been taken seriously,” he said.
Mr. Singh, a former professor at the Banaras Hindu University, known for writing novels and short stories, also said he was protesting the allegations against the writers that they were politically motivated.