The Uttar Pradesh 7th State Conference was held at Azamgarh on 14-15 October 2017. The first day of the conference was devoted to the inauguration, organizational report, discussion and elections. The 5th Azamgarh Film Festival was screened on the second day. The inaugural discussion on ‘Hate, Violence, and New Forms of Cultural Protest’ was led by Rahul Roy and Saba Diwan, who shared some of the difficulties they faced as conveners of the ‘Not in My Name’ campaign.
Well-known writer Shivmurty said that writers and cultural activists must unite to give a befitting reply to the divisive forces who are spreading communal and casteist poison. Prof Rajendra Kumar, Nalin Ranjan Singh, Sanjay Shrivastava, Sanjay Joshi, Vijay Bahadur Rai and Dr Babar Ashfaq Khan addressed the meeting. State Secretary Com. Prem Shankar read the organizational report which was unanimously passed after discussion. Comrades Shivmurty, Ramayan Ram, and Kaushal Kishore were elected President, Secretary and Working President respectively. Ruchi Dixit, Ramesh Maurya, DP Soni, and Dr Durga Singh were elected to the Secretarial Board. Jaiprakash, Dhumketu, Bhagwan Swarup Katiyar, Om Prakash Mishra, Priyam Ankit, and Hemant Kumar were elected Vice Presidents
