RAIPUR: In a veiled reference to the Congress, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar today said that writers and intellectuals who have returned their awards against "growing intolerance" are indulging in "dirty politics" at the behest of their erstwhile political masters.

"It appears that those who had given them honour, whether they deserve it not, have now been thrown out of rule and don't find their future for the next 10-15 years in the politics. It is unfortunate that writers and intellectuals are becoming part of dirty politics on their direction," Indresh said in an apparent reference to Congress.

Accusing the artistes and writers of hypocrisy, he said, "I spoke to some of them...when daughters like Nirbhaya (referring to the 2012 Delhi rape incident) were raped, their dignity was molested in the country, then why didn't they come forward to protect humanity and tolerance?"

He was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a programme organised by FANS ( Forum for Awareness of National Security ) here.

"...When around 40,000 people were brutally killed in Jammu and Kashmir between 1989-94 and Indians were being called as dogs, why nobody came forward during that period of intolerance to show their solidarity to the killed people? Were murders acceptable to litterateurs then?

"I asked (litterateurs) why did they not react when Indian flags were burnt and Pakistani flags hoisted. People had raised slogans in favour of Pakistan and against India (without referring to name of any place), but they kept mum," he said.

Indresh said that intellectuals should not become a victim and a tool of dirty politics.

"They should rise above all these things and work for bringing laurels to the country. They should understand what people and country wants," he said.

Scores of writers, intellectuals and artistes have returned various government honours deploring "growing intolerance" in country under Narendra Modi dispensation in the wake of incidents like murder of rationalists and the Dadri lynching .