Bengaluru: The way people with specific agenda target freedom of speech and expression, as has to be enjoyed by others is abominable. 

We all know how the Bloomsbury India publishers withdrew in the last minute from publishing Delhi Riots 2020. Now they want to intimidate and threaten Garuda Publishers as well. 

Nandini Sundar, a professor, had served a cease and desist notice to the publishers, the publishers have hit back hard. 

They said, “Garuda Prakashan has a vision of bringing fact-based authentic content fearlessly. We will continue to do so, no matter how many challenges we have to face.”

Sankrant Sanu, founder of the house, said, “The ecosystem is powerful, with worldwide connections, funding. Practically all major media worldwide, publishing, continues to push a one-sided story which demonizes Hindus. And even in India, these forces are so strong.”

“There are powerful forces trying hard to block the release of Delhi Riots 2020. Why are the facts it reveals so challenging for them?”

He also wondered as to how such a notice was sent when the book is not yet released. 

He said, “What is the basis on which a cease and desist notice is being sent? Clearly the aim is harassment and intimidation of a small publisher.”

Co-founder Ankur Pathak said, ‘If you disagree with a book, you can bring forth another book in response, another argument, but you cannot curtail the voices of others in a democratic country.”

A website noted that on September 3, author and lawyer Monika Arora filed a criminal complaint against Bloomsbury India, Islamist Aatish Taseer, William Dalrymple, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Nandini Sundar and the Quint for hatching a criminal conspiracy to threaten, harm the reputation of the Delhi Riots book and the authors, besides copyright theft.

There can never be a greater exhibition of stymieing and scuttling the process of publication.