Yash Bharti recipient on fast-unto-death

VARANASI: Hours before the start of Ganga Mahotsav, the annual cultural extravaganza of Kashi, on Sunday Yash Bharti award recipient folk singer Vishnu Yadav launched a fast-unto-death against the neglect of local artistes.
Vishnu, a Birha (a style of Bhojpuri folk songs) singer awarded Yash Bharti in February, criticized festival's artist selection committee and Padma Bhushan Pt Chhannu Lal Mishra for failure to provide a platform to local artistes, including those belonging to the field of classical and semi-classical dance and singing, in the Ganga Mahotsav.Rejecting Vishnu's assertion, Mishra claimed that none of the local artistes had sent their bio-data during selection process.