No restrictions on freedom of expression in Delhi: Culture Minister

Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra

New Delhi: There will be no restrictions on the freedom of expression on writers and intellectuals, said Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra while inaugurating the fourth edition of the 'Delhi Literature Festival'.

The three-day literature festival started from Friday evening at Dilli Haat. The festival will culminate on January 10.

"I am assuring that there will be no muzzling of freedom of writers in Delhi. Our government will support writers and artists in expressing their thoughts freely," Mishra said.

"Only writers can take up cudgels against the prevailing situation in the country. The walls need to be broken," the minister said.

"Those who can understand why stones started arriving in January 2016 in Ayodhya, should write openly about it," he added, exhorting writers to write freely to expose truths.

Taking a jibe at the centre, Mishra said why singers like Ghulam Ali were stopped when the Pathankot attack could not be averted.

Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali was not allowed to perform in the country. Those who should have been stopped have managed to come to Pathankot, and they still have no idea how many terrorists came to the town. We need to change this, Mishra said.

The minister also said the social media has helped budding writers to reach out to the readers.