Violence in any form is unacceptable, especially if it causes death, destruction and displacement. Ironically, more than 25 years ago, a violence that was spearheaded by Islamic fundamentalists and pro-Pakistani elements and caused deaths in and displacement of a minority community in Kashmir, did not stir the conscience of the writers who are now returning their awards in the name of violence.
The present act of returning awards is nothing short of hypocrisy, meant only to malign the present dispensation in New Delhi. Will the learned see reason and stop acting in a partisan manner that brings more criticism and less appreciationIJ