Writers returning awards a blot on Modi government: Jyotiraditya Scindia

GUNA (MP): Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia today said owing to the rising level of intolerance in the country several eminent writers have returned their awards as a mark of strong protest, which is a "blot" on the ruling NDA government.

The Congress leader also lashed out at the Centre for describing Dadri lynching incident as a state subject.

"The level of intolerance in the country is increasing, which resulted in number of litterateurs returning their awards to register a strong protest on the issue...The step taken by these writers is a blot on the government's functioning," Scinida told reporters here.

There is fear and feeling of insecurity among people after the Dadri incident, he said, adding, "The Centre cannot escape from its responsibility by describing the Dadri incident as a state subject."

The Congress leader also slammed the central government representatives for their "irresponsible" statements on Dadri incident.

On the issue of inflation, especially spiralling prices of pulses, Scindia blamed the BJP and said middlemen were earning huge profits under the patronage of the ruling party.