Sir — This refers to the article, “Eminent intellectuals and their many tricks” (November 2) by Joginder Singh. Some Sahitya Akademi awardees have returned their awards and a few others have desired or proposed to return it on the plea that the Modi regime is apathetic to the incidences of ‘growing intolerance’ in the country. What has happened now that didn’t happen during the Congress ruleIJ Moreover, State Governments bear the responsibility for law and order problems arising out of actions by any fanatic fringe. If these intellectuals are true nationalists, they should have protested against the heart-rending incidents of barbarity which were more severe in form and magnitude, such as the forceful displacement of Kashmiri Pandits; the 1984 Sikh massacre etc.
These intellectuals also remained by and large silent on the Mumbai carnage by Pakistani outfits; some of them merely appealed for calm and communal harmony, as if the terror strike was just a law and order issue. The returning of awards by writers and a few others will not impact and influence the broader national sentiment.
The fact is that pseudo-secularists have become intolerant to the progressive ideas and development-oriented programmes of Prime Minister Modi. They also find themselves out of favour and out of work. Therefore, they are now cashing in on their past glory and using their awards to draw attention to themselves.