Now, writers queue up to return awards

Now, writers queue up to return awards

Singer Harbhajan Mann Refuses to Accept Award

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:05.12.2020

Noted Punjabi writers, angry over the central government’s “ill treatment” of agitating farmers seeking repeal of the new agriculture laws, have started returning their Sahitya awards.

After Swarajbir Singh, Jaswinder Singh and Mohanjit, two young writers Yadwinder Singh and Harmanjeet Singh have announced to return their Sahit Akademi Yuva Awards.

Yadwinder told TOI: “I am pained to see the Union government not listening to farmers, who are sitting at Delhi borders for the past nine days. I am angry over the attitude of the government and have decided to return award.”

Harmanjeet added, “Those who speak ill of our mothers, those who are bent upon breaking the spine of our fathers, grand fathers and our generation, those who conspire to uproot the foundation of Punjab, we do not their accolades to prove ourselves.”

Noted singer and actor Harbhajan Mann too declined to accept the award announced by Punjab government on Thursday. “I have decided not to receive the Shiromani Singer Award. The destination I have reached today is due to farmers, mother tongue Punjabi and all Punjabis. From being born into a farmer family till now every breath of my life is a debt of farmers and I am indebted to farmers. My singing was also loved by farmers which made me able to win this award. Farmers are on the roads and are crying asking for justice from those who snatch rights of farmers. Their future is in dark so at this moment it doesn’t look good to receive the award,” he said.

Philanthropist and environmentalist Baba Sewa Singh, too, returned the Padma Shri awarded to him in 2010 to show his solidarity with the farmers.

The anger against the government’s “draconian” attitude has boiled over to other sections of the society as well. Retired commandant of Punjab home guards and civil defence Rai Singh Dhaliwal has decided to return the President’s Medal he was bestowed for meritorious service.

Full report on www.toi.in

People take part in a candle march in Jalandhar on Friday to support the farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws