Lucknow: The fifth edition of the Lucknow Literary Festival was abruptly called off within two hours of starting when a group of activists from ABVP and Hindu Yuva Vahini disrupted a session in which former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar was the main speaker.
The incident took place here late on Friday night and hours later, the district administration cancelled the event, saying that necessary permissions had not been taken.
The literary festival focused on the theme of ‘Literature, Politics and We’ and Kanhaiya Kumar was there to talk about his book Bihar se Tihar Tak.
As soon as Kanhaiya Kumar began speaking, the ABVP and HYV activists began jeering, calling him traitor of the nation and raising anti-Kanhaiya Kumar slogans.
A scuffle took place between ABVP-HYV and Samajwadi Party student wing members when the former made an abortive bid to reach the stage, organised at Sheroes Cafe, run by acid attack survivors. Police were called in to control the situation.
Later, speaking on the occasion, Kanhaiya said, “You have governments in 18 states but you cannot suppress an independent voice or stop someone to express his thoughts. I belong to a family of freedom fighter and no one can stop me expressing my thoughts.” “I am ready to face bullets but will not stop opposing those taking country to a wrong direction,” he added.
