Hyderabad, Jan. 25 -- Two incidents seen as curbs on free speech and expression by the BJP Government in the State have drawn criticism from writers, academicians and media in the State. In the first instance, the Public Library Book Selection Committee withdrew its recommendation to purchase the book titled Rama Mandira Yeke Beda? (Why should there be no Rama Mandira?) by eminent writer K. S. Bhagavan. In the second instance, senior Kannada writer Ham Pa Nagarajaiah was summoned by a taluka level police station in Mandya district and questioned as to why he criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public speech. The two incidents within the span of ten days have raised the ire of the literati in the State.

K. S. Bhagavan

Bhagavan's...