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23 Oct, 2015

Zahid death: Kashmir writer Margoob Banhali returns Sahitya Akademi Award | The Indian Express

Noted Kashmir writer and poet Margoob Banhali today joined the growing list of litterateurs to return the Sahitya Akademi Award in protest against the “increasing attacks on minorities” in the country.

“Attacks on minorities in India have grown. The barbaric attack of 20-years-old Zahid Rasool Bhat resulted in his laying to rest in south Kashmir today. In view of this brutality, I have decided to return my Sahitya Akademi Award,” Banhali said.

Banhali was conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book ‘Partanistan’ in 1979. The writer-poet, while referring to the 2010 summer agitation in Kashmir that left over 115 persons dead, said he should have returned the award then. “It is better late than never… today entire Kashmir is in tears over the death of an innocent,” he added.

Source: Zahid death: Kashmir writer Margoob Banhali returns Sahitya Akademi Award | The Indian Express