'C Radhakrishnan's resignation sends a wrong message'; allegation of political interference is not true, says Kendra Sahitya Akademi president

NEW DELHI: Kendra Sahitya Akademi president Madhav Kaushik has criticised writer C Radhakrishnan for resigning as an eminent member of the Akademi. Madhav Kaushik, who said that Radhakrishnan's resignation was sending a wrong message, added that Radhakrishnan's claim that there was political interference in the Akademi was wrong. He also explained that Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal was a writer.

C Radhakrishnan announced his resignation as an eminent member of the Akademi after the Union Minister inaugurated the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Sahitya Festival. He sent his resignation letter to the Akademi Secretary. He said that if the politicisation of the Sahitya Akademi is allowed, it too will be robbed of its autonomy just like what happened with the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Lalit Kala Akademi. He also said that he does not have any love or hatred for the parties ruling at the Centre.

“Political bosses are now reported to be smarting even to redraft the constitution of the Akademi! Sorry, I can’t be a silent witness to the funeral of the very last democratically autonomous institution of culture in the nation,” Radhakrishnan wrote in his letter.