Bloomsbury says won't publish book on Delhi riots after Kapil Mishra row

Bloomsbury India on Saturday (August 22) announced it has withdrawn itself from publishing a book on the Delhi riots of February after there was outrage over a virtual pre-publication launch, which it said was being organised without its knowledge.

The publishing house faced massive backlash online on Friday after a purported advertisement of the book launch on Saturday with BJP leader Kapil Mishra as a guest of honour did the rounds on social media.

The Book is Public Now

India and the world will read it and know the Truth of Anti Hindu Delhi Riots

No Hate Campaign and Propaganda Machinery Can STOP the Truth to come out#DelhiRiotsUntoldStories pic.twitter.com/QkHlRtcHPf

— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) August 22, 2020

There have been allegations that several leaders including Mishra made inflammatory speeches targeting anti-citizenship law protesters before the violence broke out in Northeast Delhi on February 23.

Bloomsbury India issued a statement saying it strongly supports freedom of speech but also has a deep sense of responsibility towards society.

Bloomsbury India had planned to release Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story in September, a book purportedly giving a factual report on the riots in Delhi in February 2020, based on investigations and interviews conducted by the authors. But the book was called out for publishing “lies”.

Others on stage will include well know hate propagates, fake news spreaders and rabble rousers @vivekagnihotri & @UnSubtleDesi … @BloomsburyPub Why is your branch in India @BloomsburyIndia giving a stage to bigots and riot-mongers? 2/2 #ShameOnBloomsburyIndia https://t.co/I3piEG3iVO

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) August 21, 2020

Bloomsbury India said, “In view of very recent events including a virtual pre-publication launch organised without our knowledge by the authors, with participation by parties of whom the publishers would not have approved, we have decided to withdraw publication of the book.”

Bloomsbury India strongly supports freedom of speech but also has a deep sense of responsibility towards society,” the statement said.

The event went ahead as scheduled. BJP National General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav also participated in it. The authors of the book are Sonali Chitalkar. Prerna Malhotra and Monica Arora.

Communal violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after citizenship law supporters and protesters clashed with each other in the area, leaving 53 people dead and nearly 200 injured.