A day before its start, the national crafts mela at Kalagram courted controversy as Jammu and Kashmir has threatened to pull out of
it.
Deputy secretary to J&K State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Javaid Rahi said they were being forced to resort to such a step. Revealing that they informed the government of Jammu and Kashmir about their move, he added the final decision would rest on the regime. ‘We are waiting for a final word from our government,’ said Rahi on the sidelines of a press briefing organized by North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) and Chandigarh Administration and addressed by Ram Niwas, home secretary of Union Territory.
Airing their grievances, Rahi said J&K was the theme state of this national event and Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages the main organizer. But the NZCC, Patiala and UT administration did not mention J&K Academy in any of its publicity methods, hoardings, advertisements, cards and other related materials.More
