CM skips Shimla lit fest event, triggers row
SHIMLA:The first edition of Shimla International Literature Festival commenced with a high drama as chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, chief guest at the event, skipped the function on Saturday.
CM on Saturday flagged off a marathon on The Ridge, which is just 100 metres away from Gaiety Theatre, before flying to Gadagusain and skipping the event for reasons unknown to the public.
Reportedly, CM’s programme was altered following a row over participation of people from different political ideologies.
While trying to bury the dialogue erupting after CM's decision to skip the event, festival director Pranav Sharma said controversies should be kept away from the festival. He said, anyone attending the function, be it a minister, journalist or a writer, should see the event as a literature festival. Literature does not have any political, religious or ideological inclination, he said.
However, irrigation and public health minister Mahender Singh Thakur inaugurated the festival at Gaiety Theatre. The two-day event organised by the Himachal Pradesh department of language and culture in collaboration with the Vibhor Trust, on the theme ‘One India’, offered around two dozen events on literature, art, music and poetry.
The festival anchor Sanjeev Paliwal initiated a political discussion on scores of issues concerning the state.
The day ended with renowned journalist and author Rajdeep Sardesai, who was to participate in the discussion ‘Democracy XI: The great Indian Cricket Story’, cancelling his visit to Shimla.
Meanwhile, local writers rue the controversy over festival. “At first glance, people may not see it as a significant event because of the limited audience and participants.”
“It is a start and it is a big start. In coming years, we are looking forward to build it as a substantial festival in future,” said a local writer Raja Bhasin.