"No Respect For Artists": Evicted Padma Shri Awardee's Daughter Slams PM
NDTV
Visuals of a frail Mr Raut outside his residence surrounded by his belongings triggered a backlash against the Centre.
90-year-old Padma Shri awardee and Odissi dancer Guru Mayadhar Raut was evicted from his government accommodation in Delhi's Asian Games village yesterday. The government says the accommodation was cancelled in 2014 and eviction notices had already been served. He, as well as other artistes, had approached the court but lost the case and had been given April 25 as the deadline to move out.
Visuals of a frail Mr Raut outside his residence surrounded by his belongings triggered a backlash against the Centre. His Padma Shri citation could also be seen lying on the street.
Mr Raut's daughter, Madhumita Raut, says that while the eviction is legal the manner in which it was done is objectionable. She slammed the Centre, saying artists don't get respect in the PM Modi-led government.
She said that the government might have made the decision in 2014, but it was only communicated to the artistes in 2020. She also raised questions on the intent of the government and asked if it was a "political game" that since Rajiv Gandhi allotted the accommodation, BJP has to snatch it away.
