By IndiaTomorrow.net,
London/New Delhi, 12 Nov 2015: Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s United Kingdom visit starting on Thursday, more than 200 writers from all over the world, including Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, Henry Marsh and Nikita Lalwani, have written an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron to take action for safeguarding the freedom of expression in India.
The letter, as reported by worldwide writers’ association PEN International, has also been signed by a large number of members and supporters of PEN’s UK-based centres — English PEN, Scottish PEN and Wales PEN Cymru. Highlighting “the rising climate of fear, growing intolerance and violence towards critical voices who challenge orthodoxy or fundamentalism in India,” the writers urged Cameron to “engage with Prime Minister Modi both publicly and privately on this crucial issue.”
Jennifer Clement, PEN International’s current President and a renowned American-Mexican writer, has also signed the letter.
Expressing concern over threats to the freedom of expression, the letter highlights the “growing intolerance” in India, a spate in the killing of writers, such as M.M. Kaburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, and the mounting public debate and protest in response.
“In line with the United Kingdom’s stated commitment to promoting human rights, we ask that you raise the above issues with Prime Minister Modi and urge him to provide better protection for writers, artists and other critical voices and ensure that freedom of speech is safeguarded. Without these protections a democratic, peaceful society is not possible,” urged the writers to the British Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, in protest against the “patriarchal violence and misogyny perpetrated by the RSS,” a large network of Indian origin people in UK have also reportedly launched a massive protest at Downing Street at 12.00 noon Thursday — right at the moment and place where Modi is due to meet Cameron. The demonstration is organized by a network of groups — the Awaaz Network, in solidarity with the protesters in India.
The Awaaz Network includes the Freedom Without Fear Platform, whose open letter to Modi was endorsed by all the UK’s major BME women’s organizations combatting violence against women, and more than twenty prominent South Asian women academics. Taking a dig at Modi for keeping mum over RSS activities, the letter says, “Your silence sends them a message of approval.”
