AMN /

The Sahitya Akademi has convened an emergency meeting of its executive board comprising 24 writers representing different Indian languages on October 23rd to discuss the issue of a string of writers returning their Akademi awards in protests against growing intolerance in society. Sahitya Akademi President Vishwanath Pratap Tiwari said the meeting has been called to discuss the issue of resignations of the writers.

At least 17 authors have till now returned their awards to protest against the killing of writer MM Kalburgi and lynching of a Muslim in Uttar Pradesh’s Dadri over his alleged consumption of beef.