Mumbai, Jan 9 (NIE): The Shiv Sena on Tuesday alleged that author Nayantara Sahgal’s invite to the 92nd Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Yavatmal was rescinded after the organisers learnt about her plan to speak on cow-related lynchings, politics of hatred and “misuse” of government machinery for political revenge.

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said: “Sahgal, in her printed speech that was sent to the organisers already, said that all the citizens should feel ashamed of the cow-related lynchings, politics of hatred, using the government machinery for political vendetta, political pressures on the journalists, and the murders of the authors in broad day light. The organisers might have thought commercially that Sehgal coming to the literary conclave means losing government favours.”

Sahgal, who was at the forefront of the ‘award-wapsi’ campaign in 2015, was to inaugurate the literary meet on January 11 in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The editorial added that Fadnavis might also have avoided the event. “So, by canceling the invitation of Sehgal, the authors and the litterateur have killed self respect and freedom of expression with their own hands.”