Devdutt Pattanaik'Mythologist' Devdutt Pattanaik's session at the National Youth Festival in Puducherry could not be broadcast due to "unforeseen technical issues", senior advisor to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Kanchan Gupta informed on Wednesday (12 January).
"Due to unforeseen technical issues, Devdutt Pattanaik’s session at National Youth Day festival could not be broadcast. Delegates and those watching are requested to tune into other ongoing sessions," Gupta said in a tweet.
Pattnaik was scheduled to speak on the first day of the event. Besides Devdutt, there were several other eminent personalities, including actor Randeep Hooda, PayTM founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, author Harsh Madhusudan and several others who were invited to the festival.
The development comes as several netizens criticised the government on inviting Devdutt Patnaik to speak at one of the session of the National Youth Festival.
Netizens demanded his removal from the panel saying that Patnaik indulged in abusive behaviour on social media often.
Tagging Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the netizens asked how a person like Devdutt, who hurls abuses frequently on social media, can be invited to address the youth of the country in the festival.
Author Shefali Vaidya said that hailing the man as a 'great mind' was "sickening".
ISKCON Kolkata vice-president Radharamn Das questioned the sports ministry and Union Minister Anurag Thakur on inviting Devdutt Patnaik "to inspire youths at the National Youth Festival event".
"How can Sports Ministry, Anurag Thakur invite this abusive mental person to inspire youths at 'National Youth Festival' event? If these kind of people are inspiring our youths, then only Bhagawan can save this country & civilization. Very shameful," Das tweeted.
An Appeal...
Dear Reader,
As you are no doubt aware, Swarajya is a media product that is directly dependent on support from its readers in the form of subscriptions. We do not have the muscle and backing of a large media conglomerate nor are we playing for the large advertisement sweep-stake.
Our business model is you and your subscription. And in challenging times like these, we need your support now more than ever.
We deliver over 10 - 15 high quality articles with expert insights and views. From 7AM in the morning to 10PM late night we operate to ensure you, the reader, get to see what is just right.
Becoming a Patron or a subscriber for as little as Rs 1200/year is the best way you can support our efforts.