Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today termed as 'ridiculous' Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement on the return of Sahitya Akademi Awards by several writers in protest against the growing atmosphere of intolerance in the country.
In a statement here today, Gogoi said Jaitley's comment "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 in returning the Sahitya Akademi Awards is a spontaneous one and not as termed by Jaitley as managed and not real one. How can any right thinking person remain silent on the rising incidents of hatred and intolerance that pervade the atmosphere?" he asked.
Gogoi said the growing incidences 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 added.
