GUWAHATI, Oct 24 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today described the statement of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the returning of Sahitya Akademi Awards by several writers in protest against the atmosphere of growing intolerance in the country as ridiculous. The Union Minister had described this step of the writers as �managed and not real one.�
In a statement here today, Gogoi said the comment made by Jaitley reeks of intolerance as he has tried to dub the protests by several writers as �managed� and �not real one� thereby showing utter disrespect to their sentiments.
�The protest registered by several writers by returning the Sahitya Akademi Awards is a spontaneous one and not �managed and not real one� as has been described by Jaitley. How can any right thinking person remain silent on the rising incidents of hatred and intolerance that pervade the atmosphere?� he quipped.
Gogoi said the growing incidents of intolerance have brought a bad name for the country. �How can the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre claim India to be shinning when such incidents have sullied the image of the country before the rest of the world?� he wondered.
