Tirupati:The 23rd State convention of Abhyudaya Writers’ Association (Arasam) began in here on Saturday, calling for united progressive movements to stop rising fascist forces. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Katyayani Vidmahe, national coordinator of the platform for democratic writers, opened the session and said Arasam formed to strengthen communist ideas against fascism. She urged progressive and left-wing groups to set aside separate agendas and build unity to protect democracy.

Speakers criticised growing communalism, attacks on dissenters, and legal cases against writers and warned inequality and corruption were rising and called for active campaigns to defend democracy before elections. They noted dangerous fragmentation of writers’ groups along caste and religion lines, praised writers’ role in raising public awareness and pledged support for student and labour movements.