Resignation is not a way to protest, says Union Minister Mahesh Sharma.
As Kashmiri poet Ghulam Nabi Khayal joined the ranks of over a dozen authors to return his Sahitya Akademi Award over what they call "rising intolerance", Union Culture minister Mahesh Sharma said it was not right to "form a group" on basis of ideology and protest.
"To protest against killing is right, but on the basis of ideology to form a group and to protest is not correct," Mr Sharma told NDTV during an interview.
"Writers should write to the government or the Prime Minister if they have any complaints. Resignation is not a way to protest. The government has not given the award," Mr Sharma said. "There was no threat to freedom of expression in the country."
The wave of protests started less than a week ago after Nayantara Sehgal, niece of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, returned her award to protest what she called a "vicious assault" on India's diversity and debate.
The authors say they are against the growing intolerance and cite the recent mob killing of a Muslim man over rumours of beef consumption and the murders of rationalists MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare as cases in point.
Today, Ms Sahgal added the attack on BJP advisor Sudheendra Kulkarni -- who was hosting the release of a book by Pakistan's foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri - to the list. "The organiser of Kasuri's event had paint thrown on his face... In which direction is the nation going?" she said.
In answer to the authors' charges, Mr Sharma said, "We condemn killings of authors (but) law and order is a state subject". Regarding the attack on Mr Kulkarni, he said, "Protests should be made within the constitutional framework".
The authors also said the Akademi, which is chaired by the Prime Minister himself, should stand for the rights and freedoms of the people.
Following the growing pressure, the Akademi has called emergency meeting on October 23 to discuss the attacks on writers. Reports say it may even pass a resolution to condemn it.