FIR in opposition to journal over ‘offending image’ of Shiva, Kali; economist Debroy quits as columnist

By PTI

KANPUR: Police right here have lodged an FIR in opposition to The Week amid a row over an “objectionable picture” of Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali that led Hindu activists to burn copies of the journal and economist Bibek Debroy to finish his affiliation with it.

The metropolis’s Kotwali police registered the case in opposition to the editor and administration of the journal following a grievance Thursday by former BJP state vice-president Prakash Sharma, who accused them of injuring spiritual emotions.

Bajrang Dal staff burnt copies of the journal on the metropolis’s Bada Chauraha on Friday, searching for motion in opposition to the editors of the journal introduced out in English by the Malayala Manorama group.

Bibek Debroy, who heads the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, on Thursday ended his affiliation with the publication as a columnist over the illustration tagged to his article “A tongue of fire” within the July 24 version.

The journal has apologised on its web site.

This is the second controversy in current weeks over the depiction of the goddess.

Last month, Canada-based filmmaker Leena Manimekalai shared a poster of her documentary that confirmed a lady dressed as Kali smoking a cigarette.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pramod Kumar stated a case below 295A of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in Kanpur.

The part offers with “deliberate malicious acts” supposed to outrage spiritual emotions.

The DCP stated directions have been issued to the investigation officer to probe the fees and take applicable motion.

BJP chief Prakash Sharma stated the image revealed by the journal has outraged Hindu sentiments.

The editor and others chargeable for this objectionable act ought to be handled an iron hand, he instructed PTI.

Earlier, in his letter to The Week editor Philip Mathew, Debroy stated he’s ending his affiliation with the journal over the illustration that accompanied his column on Kali.

“The picture was deliberately chosen to titillate and provoke. At least, that’s the way I perceive it,” he stated within the letter he additionally posted on Twitter.

The journal has provided its “sincere apologies” for publishing the image and changed it with one other on its web site.

The illustration was taken from a photograph company which described it as an 1820 Kangra portray from Himachal Pradesh, it stated.

“We are genuinely sorry that it has hurt the sentiments of many of our readers and others.” It stated there was an “unfortunate error of judgment on our part” in reproducing the illustration, including that there was “no mischievous or malevolent intent.”

ALSO READ | ‘Kaali’ is all about selecting love and championing humanity: Leena Manimekalai on controversy

KANPUR: Police right here have lodged an FIR in opposition to The Week amid a row over an “objectionable picture” of Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali that led Hindu activists to burn copies of the journal and economist Bibek Debroy to finish his affiliation with it.

The metropolis’s Kotwali police registered the case in opposition to the editor and administration of the journal following a grievance Thursday by former BJP state vice-president Prakash Sharma, who accused them of injuring spiritual emotions.

Bajrang Dal staff burnt copies of the journal on the metropolis’s Bada Chauraha on Friday, searching for motion in opposition to the editors of the journal introduced out in English by the Malayala Manorama group.

Bibek Debroy, who heads the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, on Thursday ended his affiliation with the publication as a columnist over the illustration tagged to his article “A tongue of fire” within the July 24 version.

The journal has apologised on its web site.

This is the second controversy in current weeks over the depiction of the goddess.

Last month, Canada-based filmmaker Leena Manimekalai shared a poster of her documentary that confirmed a lady dressed as Kali smoking a cigarette.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pramod Kumar stated a case below 295A of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in Kanpur.

The part offers with “deliberate malicious acts” supposed to outrage spiritual emotions.

The DCP stated directions have been issued to the investigation officer to probe the fees and take applicable motion.

BJP chief Prakash Sharma stated the image revealed by the journal has outraged Hindu sentiments.

The editor and others chargeable for this objectionable act ought to be handled an iron hand, he instructed PTI.

Earlier, in his letter to The Week editor Philip Mathew, Debroy stated he’s ending his affiliation with the journal over the illustration that accompanied his column on Kali.

“The picture was deliberately chosen to titillate and provoke. At least, that’s the way I perceive it,” he stated within the letter he additionally posted on Twitter.

The journal has provided its “sincere apologies” for publishing the image and changed it with one other on its web site.

The illustration was taken from a photograph company which described it as an 1820 Kangra portray from Himachal Pradesh, it stated.

“We are genuinely sorry that it has hurt the sentiments of many of our readers and others.” It stated there was an “unfortunate error of judgment on our part” in reproducing the illustration, including that there was “no mischievous or malevolent intent.”

ALSO READ | ‘Kaali’ is all about selecting love and championing humanity: Leena Manimekalai on controversy