Overview

• The four-day Kolkata programme set for August 31 to September 3 was postponed hours before its start, with secretary Nuzhat Zainab announcing the change in a brief statement.
• The statement did not specify a reason and used the phrase “due to unavoidable circumstances.”
• Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s Kolkata unit formally urged the academy to drop Akhtar, with general secretary Zillur Rahman Arif publicly condemning his past remarks about Islam.
• Coverage attributes the decision to reported government concerns about possible unrest in an election year, with sources citing risks of protest incidents.
• Organisers voiced disappointment and said they hope to reschedule the event, as reports also noted opposition from the Wahyain Foundation to Akhtar’s invitation.