Ahead of the forthcoming general election, over 200 writers on Monday issued a joint multi-lingual appeal to vote out “hate politics” and vote for a diverse and equal India.
The appeal is regarding the manner in which people have been targeted for their religion, caste or gender, and the use of hate politics to divide the country and create a climate of fear.
The signatories said that voting out hate politics is the first step critical step. In their appeal, they urged people, “Vote out the division of our people, vote out inequality, vote against violence, intimidation and censorship.”
The writers include Girish Karnad, Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, Bama, Nayantara Sahgal, TM Krishna, Vivek Shanbhag, Jeet Thayil, K Satchidanandan and Romila Thapar, among others.
Though the letter does not name any political party, right-wing supporters were quick to criticise the writers for issuing such an appeal.
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The letter said the country is at a crossroads in the upcoming polls and adds, “Our Constitution guarantees all its citizens’ equal rights, the freedom to eat, pray and live as they choose, freedom of expression and the right to dissent.”
“But in the last few years, we have seen citizens being lynched or assaulted or discriminated against because of their community, caste, gender, or the region they come from,” they added in the letter.
The 17th Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The votes will be counted on May 23.