The Modi government respects the sensitivity and creativity of litterateurs and will protect that, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said here today and asked the writers and other intellectuals who recently returned awards to review their decisions.
He was speaking to a delegation of Writers and Journalists Association which handed over two memoranda to him criticising those who returned their awards and highlighting the number of attacks on journalists in the state.
"NDA government respects the senstivity and creativity of litterateurs and will take every step required to protect it," Singh said.
"I appeal to the litterateurs to show the right and positive path to society and should also review their decision of returning the awards," the Home Minister said.
His comments on the issue came a day after President Pranab Mukherjee virtually disapproved of the returning of honours by some writers and other intellectuals, saying such awards should be cherished and valued by the recipients and emotions should not "overrun reason".
Mukherjee observed that "sensitive minds" sometimes get disturbed by some incidents in the society but there should be "balanced" expression of concern over such events.
The delegation demanded a law for ensuring security to journalists as it highlighted that a number of scribes have recently died under mysterious circumstunces. The delegation members also alleged atrocities by the police.
Underlining that attack on journalists is a serious matter, Singh said he himself at the personal level as well as union government will take steps respecting the federal structure to see that such unfortunate incidents are not repeated.
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The Home Minister said the values of life including
serving the elderly have been the most important part of our tradition.
He said taking care of senior citizens is not only part of our family system but this has been enshrined in the directive principles of state policy and is also part of the Concurrent List of powers common between the States and the Centre, besides being part of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Recalling that Lord Ram was known as "maryada purshottam" for upholding the word of his parents and being caring towards them, the Home Minister said our young children must inherit the traditional values since a system works more by the heart than mind.
"This will become more vital since the elderly population of our country, which stands at over 10 crore at present is projected to rise to more than 30 crore by the year 2050," he added.
