Mishra defends Sahitya chief suspension

Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Anoop Mishra today defended the suspension of top functionaries of Sahitya Academy and Bharat Bhawan, alleging that these bodies were engaged in ‘‘highly objectionable’’ activities.

Mishra said an inquiry has been ordered into the state of affairs in Sahitya Academy and Bharat Bhawan during the tenure of its suspended acting secretary Pooran Chandra Rath and deputy director Madan Soni respectively.

Terming as inappropriate the ‘‘threat’’ by some writers and artistes to launch an agitation against the suspension, the minister said work at the Bharat Bhawan and Academy had come to a standstill in the past six years. He said the language used in some books by these writers about RSS and Chief Minister Uma Bharati was ‘‘highly shameful’’.

‘‘Bharat Bhawan will not be allowed to become a political platform,’’ he said.