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| India-Pakistan |
| Violence erupts after anti-Muslim posters show up on MSU campus |
| 2007-05-26 |
| Trouble erupted in the walled city areas of Vadodara after Friday prayers in the Jumma Masjid over the appearance two days ago of objectionable posters at the M S University campus. Police used lathis and fired teargas shells to disperse stone-pelting mobs protesting against the posters Late in the night, mobs gathered again in the Mandvi area, near the Jumma Masjid, and police lobbed four teargas shells to disperse them. It started a few days ago with M S University Senate member Deepak Shah offering a Rs 1 lakh award daring anybody to “offend Islam the way Fine Arts Faculty student Chandramohan’s works had offended the religious sensibilities of Christians and Hindus.“ Shah, formerly with the BJP students’ wing, withdrew his statement, saying he meant no ill will towards any community. However, on Wednesday night an anonymous caller tipped off police and media about posters objectionable to Islam found near the M S University campus. Police seized the posters, bearing words in Hindi and falsely attributing it to Chandramohan. One Farid Lakhajiwala filed a complaint against those responsible for making and distribution of the controversial posters as well as against Shah for his controversial offer. The case was made out under Sections153 (a), 153 (b), 295 (a), and 114 of the Indian Penal Code — the same as those pressed against Chandramohan for his art works. Senior Muslim leaders and PUCL activist Prof J S Bandukwala were in discussion with police on how to handle the situation. And on Thursday, M S University deans and department heads adopted a resolution that displaying obscene pieces of art to hurt sentiments, beliefs, and faith was deplorable and should be avoided. On Friday, however, anonymous leaflets calling for a bandh and widespread condemnation of the provocation were found stuck on walls in Muslim areas of the city. There was tension in the air and crowds gathered, with some men bearing images of Osama bin Laden. Stone-pelting followed. Some 15 youths were arrested for rioting and combing operations were on in full swing in walled city areas. Police Commissioner P C Thakur said, “Miscreants who wanted to breach the peace have been identified and more arrests will take place tonight.” He compared the situation to the teleserial Tamas, which depicted communal violence during the Partition and said the disturbances were all well-planned conspiracies. He said an alert had been sounded and two reserve police companies had been deployed. But Thakur did not comment on why no action was taken against Shah for his provocative statements and offer of a reward. |
| Posted by:John Frum |
| #7 We're starting to look at potential universities. I thought Michigan State, too. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-26 15:53 |
| #6 I have noticed that "Art" is simply a scream for attention, lately I saw (In our local museum) A "Piece"(About 4 feet square) consisting edntirely of many layers of partly completed jigsaw puzzles glued atop each other, purely a waste of time, NOT art. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-05-26 15:30 |
| #5 Due to the outpost in Dearborn, I really thought it was at Michigan State also. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter2970 2007-05-26 14:55 |
| #4 Regardless, the same is true in the US. The moonbats in the "artistic" community have painted/written/performed untold numbers of anti-Christian blather. They do it because they can. Outside of a few deranged individuals...vocal anti-Christians have nothing to fear from the Christian community. Nothing. However, not one has the guts to offend the sensibilities (I know it's an oxymoron) of the muslim community by saying anything about allan the demon, or mo-ham-head. That makes the "artists" a bunch of hypocrites and wusses. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2007-05-26 14:01 |
| #3 Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda where apparently Robert Maplethorpe is held in high esteem amongst the artsy types... |
| Posted by: John Frum 2007-05-26 12:54 |
| #2 Whew... MSU threw me for a second before I noticed India. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-05-26 12:53 |
| #1 A large cross depicting Christ with his penis hanging out, semen dripping from it into a commode. A nude woman with a baby attempting to push its way out of her vagina. The caption below the painting reads: "Durga Mata". These were two of the "works of art" made by Chandra Mohan, a student of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, who was arrested this past week on charges of hurting religious sentiments and posing a threat to public order. Among the earliest to protest was the pastor of the Methodist Church in Baroda, Reverend Emmanuel Kant. A group of irate Hindus, led by Niraj Jain, a BJP activist, also marched into the exhibition venue. Jain, who had complained to the police about the apparently blasphemous nature of the "art", demanded the paintings be removed. After persuasion from the police, the paintings and other works of "art" were taken down and locked up in a room. Despite the anger of Jain and his compatriots, there was no major violence, no damage to university property and Chandra Mohan's creations were left untouched. They are still safe in that room. |
| Posted by: John Frum 2007-05-26 12:52 |