Right-wing organisation opposes tribute to Husain at IFFI

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, which had sued the painter for his controversial paintings on Hindu Gods and Goddesses, has urged the organisers of the festival not to pay tribute to the painter.

Husain, who earned both fame and wrath for his paintings, died in London in June this year at the age of 95.

IFFI 2011, which will begin here from today, plans to show a documentary-- 'Through The Eyes of the Painter,' directed by Husain on his journey through Rajasthan.

HJS delegation, led by women-wing chief Rajashree Gadekar, yesterday met Manoj Srivastava, the Chief Executive Officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), asking him to drop the tribute section.

Gadekar told PTI that ESG, which is a state government body, however, told the members that the section is curated by the IFFI directorate. Since IFFI Director Shankar Mohan was not available, the delegation left a memorandum of demands at his office.
HJS has warned to stage an agitation, if IFFI goes ahead with the plan.