Urdu satirist Mujtaba Hussain to return Padma Shri over CAA, NRC

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"Feeling Suffocated": Urdu satirist Mujtaba Hussain to return Padma Shri over CAA, NRC

The 84-year-old satirist, often described as Mark Twain of Urdu, said that he is feeling suffocated and his conscience is pricking him

Wednesday December 18, 2019 8:17 AM, ummid.com with inputs from IANS

Hyderabad: Well-known Urdu humour writer Mujtaba Hussain has decided to return his Padma Shri award to protest "the atmosphere of fear and hatred created by the Modi government".

Hussain, who was awarded the Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award in 2007, said that he is pained over the current situation in the country with those in power targeting minorities, especially Muslims.

The 84-year-old satirist, often described as Mark Twain of Urdu, said that he is feeling suffocated and his conscience is pricking him.

Sources close to the writer said that he is concerned over the hatred and fear created among the community through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC)

Hussain, one of the leading writers in the Indian subcontinent, has written several books. He began his literary career from Urdu daily "Siasat" and was a regular columnist there till a couple of years ago.

While several writers, poets and artists have returned the awards in recent years to register their protest on various issues, Hussain is the first to return a Padma award.

Mujtaba Hussain's decision to return the Padma award came amidst widespread protests over the contorversial law and concerns raised by the civil society in India and abroad over the manner the government and police is handling the situation.

On Monday, the United States also called upon authorities in India to “protect and respect” the right of people who are peacefully protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

“We urge authorities to protect and respect the right of peaceful assembly,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement backing protests that have been spreading and have come under criticism for the use of excessive force by law enforcement personnel.

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