Patna April 21 (IANS) Several poets writers theatre activists and journalists have boycotted Hindi daily Dainik Jagran s literature festival "Bihari Samvadi" on Saturday to protest against its repeatedly publishing a news story claiming the eight-year-old Kathua victim was not raped.
They have also appealed to fellow writers not to participate in the two-day event.
Bihari Samvadi the first literature festival in Bihar was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here on Saturday.
A Patna-based literary organisation Jan Sanskriti Manch has appealed to people to boycott the event.
"Response to our call is more than expected " Rajesh Kamal a Hindi poet and writer and convenor of Jan Sanskriti Manch said.
Kamal said it was really disgusting that fake news was being used to change the narrative on a heinous crime.
Noted Hindi poet Alok Dhanwa has boycotted the event besides Sanjay Kundan a Hindi poet and author who said: "I am not attending Bihari Samvadi to express my protest against the fake news published by it."
Nivedita Shakil a Hindi poet and journalist said it was shocking that a newspaper that published a fake news to falsify the Kathua rape case was even organising a literary festival like this here. "I have decided to boycott it."
--IANS
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