New Delhi

Expressing anguish against writers returning their awards over the “climate of intolerance” in the country, a group of Sikh protesters today burnt books questioning the authors’ silence on 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue.

The protesters led by Gurcharan Singh Babbar, who had written a book on 1984 riots titled Sarkari Qatl-e-aam, burnt over 500 copies of the book at Jantar Mantar here registering their anger and frustration against the delay in justice in pending cases of 1984 riots.

“We want to question the author community who is returning their awards in protest against the climate of intolerance in the society that where were they for past 32 years? Why a similar civil outrage was not witnessed when 1984 Sikh riots shook the nation and the victims have been denied justice till date?, ” Babbar told reporters here.

Babbar’s book which is an anecdotal account of the riots, available in four languages – Hindi, English, Punjabi and Urdu was banned in 1998 after a petitioner, Suresh Chauhan, went to a local court saying the work had abused the judiciary, hurt feelings of many people and could trigger fresh riots. The ban was, however, lifted later.

“Nothing concrete has happened so far on anti-1984 riots.

Committee after committee and promises after promises, accused being given clean chits and much more drama has happened since then but no justice has been done. Why didn’t the author community question the intolerance atmosphere then,” he said.

Police tried to douse the fire and detained few of the protesters.

Those detained by the police during the protest were released later in the evening.

“Babbar and two of his associates were detained by us during the protest. They were released later,” a senior police officer said.

Don’t understand why artists returning awards: Zubin

New Delhi

Mumbai-born music maestro Zubin Mehta today said he failed to understand why artists, writers filmmakers and other intellectuals were returning their state awards, while suggesting that those protesting against the government should engage in a “dialogue” with it.

“Intellectuals are going ahead and giving back awards whether they are writers or filmmakers. They must feel very strongly and I respect them for what they are doing. On the other hand, I read what the government ministers are saying. I think both parties should meet together and talk about their grievances,” he said.

The renowned conductor is here as part of the final leg of the debut India tour of the Australian World Orchestra (AWO), that recently wrapped up performances in Mumbai and Chennai.

Mehta is performing in the city after a gap of 10 years.

Referring to the slew of protests by writers, artists, filmmakers, historians, academics and scholars against the “rising intolerance” in the country, the world-renowned musician said he came to know about it only through news reports.

“I don’t live here and I have not been through this entire process day by day. I read about it about for last five or six days in the paper. I wish I could talk to one of them for them to explain it to me, because it is a major movement which is going on right now,” he said.

At least 36 writers had returned their Sahitya Akademi awards following which a group of authors had staged a silent march with black gags and armbands here recently in protest against the Akademi’s reluctance to strongly condemn incidents of killings of writers and rationalists like M M Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. The Akademi later condemned the killing in a resolution passed in a emergency meet.

“People were walking with black bands on their mouths and so on. I wish I could talk to them, this is not to argue with them but to hear their point of view,” he said.

The maestro who was conferred in 1966 with the Padma Bhushan and in 2001 with the Padma Vibhushan noted that there was no “communication” between the protesters and government.

PTI