Those returning the award received money from Congress, BJP MP Rameswar Tali

GUWAHATI: BJP MP from Dibrugarh constituency, Rameswar Tali on Tuesday kick started a controversy when he said that those intellectuals and scientists returning the awards for they have received money from Congress to return the award and defame Narendra Modi led government.

Tali while addressing media persons in Dibrugarh on Tuesday said Assam’s noted litterateur and journalist Homen Borgohain has decided to return the Sahitya Akademi award as he has received Rs 15 Lakh from congress to do so.

He said, “Borgohain got award when congress was in power. The award carried Rs one lakh however by returning the award he has got Rs 15 lakh from the congress. There is an attempt to defame Prime minister, Narendra Modi and get publicity.”

This has sparked controversy and there is reactions from different quarters. Later talking to ET over telephone Tali said, “What I meant was awards are being returned for some consideration. However I have not mentioned Borgohain’s name. I apologize if I have hurt anyone.”

Last month Borgohain has decided to return the honour as a mark of protest against the Dadri killing and growing religious intolerance in the country.

Lok Sabha BJP MP from Guwahati Bijoya Chakraborty said Borgohain should have written to the government rather than returning the award.

Borgohain who is well known Assamese writer, columnist and journalist in a vernacular daily newspaper had stated last month, “There was silent protest inside me ever since the Dadri killing (Uttar Pradesh took place. However I did not how to vent it out.”

Borgohain won the award in 1978 in Assamese language for his novel 'Pita Putra' (Father Son). Borgohain had than stated that his symbolic gesture is not only against the Dadri killing but against the growing fascist tendency in the country and against the evil forces trying to hit hard at the core ideology of Indian civilisation and culture.