Srinagar, June 21: At a time when the valley was aghast over the killing of teenagers, the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Information Department jointly organized a musical evening and dances at SKICC on Sunday for the visiting presiding officers, legislators and officials of legislative bodies.
The Academy PRO, Syed Shakeel-ur-Rehman, said the troupe displayed multicultural diversity of the state. “The artists performed different folk song and dance items which were highly appreciated by the 300-strong audience comprising presiding officers, deputy speakers, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons and secretaries of the legislature bodies from across the country.
“The items presented included Kashmiri rouf, Ladakhi folk, Dogri Chatni, and Kud Dance besides other items,” he said.
The Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, K. Rehman Khan, Speaker Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Muhammed Akbar Lone, Dy Speaker, Sartaj Madni, Secretary General, Lok Sabha, PDT Acharya, Secretary General Rajya Sabha, Dr V K Agnihotra, Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha, Karyamunda, and Principal Secretary, Lok Sabha, DN Pandey, were among those present.
“The Universities and Boards cancelled various scheduled examinations while the entire   valley was seething with anger. But, instead of showing any concern over human rights abuses, the visiting dignitaries preferred to watch the cultural show. The Academy should have canceled programme in view of prevailing situation,” said an official of the Academy, pleading anonymity, adding the artists had been brought from different regions of the state. “Even they were concerned over the situation,” he added.

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