Lucknow: Urdu poet Munawwar Rana, who has returned his Sahitya Akademi award over growing intolerance in the country, would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon.
"I got a call from PMO on Tuesday with a request to meet him the next day. As I was in Gwalior I said that it was not possible and the date and time should be fixed for some other day...On this I was told that it will take some time," Mr Rana said today.
A big name in contemporary Urdu poetry, the 62-year-old said that whenever PM Modi would call him, he would meet him and narrate his grief over the present scenario. He would also explain the reason behind his decision of returning award.
On being asked if he will meet PM Modi along with other litterateurs, he said, "Somebody goes with me or not is his or her personal choice, but if Modi calls me I will definitely meet him."
Mr Rana had recently announced to give up his Sahitya Akademi award dramatically during a live TV debate over the killing of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi and lynching of a man in Dadri for allegedly consuming beef.
"I got a call from PMO on Tuesday with a request to meet him the next day. As I was in Gwalior I said that it was not possible and the date and time should be fixed for some other day...On this I was told that it will take some time," Mr Rana said today.
A big name in contemporary Urdu poetry, the 62-year-old said that whenever PM Modi would call him, he would meet him and narrate his grief over the present scenario. He would also explain the reason behind his decision of returning award.
On being asked if he will meet PM Modi along with other litterateurs, he said, "Somebody goes with me or not is his or her personal choice, but if Modi calls me I will definitely meet him."
Advertisement
Mr Rana had recently announced to give up his Sahitya Akademi award dramatically during a live TV debate over the killing of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi and lynching of a man in Dadri for allegedly consuming beef.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Amid Reports Of Links With IPL Side, VVS Laxman Likely To Extend Stay At NCA Video: Patients Bang OPD Doors, Doctors Raise 'Justice' Slogans In UP Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma Unite For Noble Cause, Donate For Charity Auction Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan "Shoot Me Up With...": What Matthew Perry Told Assistant Hours Before Death Exotic Trips, Luxury Cars: Inside The Lavish Life Of LA's "Ketamine Queen" Kerala Launches 1st Digital Court For Negotiable Instruments Cases Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.