Allege that it provides a forum for promotion of right wing ideology

An alliance of Left parties, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Dravida Kazhagam (DK) will stage a protest near the Alliance Francaise on August 17, the opening day of the Pondy Lit Fest (PLF) 2018, demanding the cancellation of the festival, as it allegedly provides a forum for the promotion of right wing ideology.

Announcing this at a joint press conference here on Tuesday, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) A.M. Salim said five political parties would write to the French Consulate here and to the Embassy in New Delhi, complaining of the decision of the president of the Alliance Francaise to allow the institution to be used as a venue for an event of this nature.

The institution was started with the aim to promote the French language and culture around the world. He said it stood for peace and harmony. He urged the Chief Minister not to attend the inaugural programme.

Dubbing the Pondy Lit Fest as “an event promoted by the RSS,” R. Rajangam, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), alleged that the RSS was using the literary platform to spread their ideology.

Local writers excluded

He said that it was only in the wake of protests after the organisers put out the names of speakers on the panel that a few local writers were included.

Former Minister and CPI leader R. Viswanathan, secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninst) Balasubramanian, VCK treasurer Tamizh Maran and DK president Veeramani were among those present at the press conference.