'Obscene' paintings of Hindu Gods removed from MSU exhibition

Paintings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, alleged to be "obscene", were today removed from the exhibition hall of the Fine Arts faculty at the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) here, after VHP activists opposed its display and lodged a complaint in this regard.

Vice Chancellor of MSU, Yogesh Singh said, "Nobody has the right to hurt sentiments of any community. These paintings were hurting the religious feelings of people that is why University took this action."

Surjeet Singh, an artist from Jammu, had organised this exhibition of paintings from December 27-30 after seeking permission from authorities of the faculty about a year ago.

The catalogue carrying the pictures of paintings submitted by the artist, did not included these 'objectionable' ones.

However, the paintings displayed in the exhibition since yesterday, included those "obscene" pictures of Lord Shiva carrying a liquor bottle, another of Shiva and his wife Parvati moving on a motorbike.

On learning about it, a VHP activist and former general secretary of city unit of BJP Niraj Jain and his supporters reached the venue of the exhibition this morning and began protests, seeking withdrawal of the paintings.

Later, Jain lodged a complaint against the artist at Sayajigunj police station under 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence language etc), 295 (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) of IPC.

Following this, police inspector A B Saiyed rushed to the fine arts faculty to investigate the case. Meanwhile, VC Prof Singh also reached there and ordered removal of the "obscene" paintings from the exhibition.

However, the artist was not present in the exhibition hall when his paintings were removed.

The MS University authorities have ordered an enquiry into the incident.
Earlier, Chandra Mohan, a student from the same fine arts faculty was arrested on charges of hurting the religious sentiments by painting Hindu Gods and Goddesses and Jesus Christ allegedly in an 'obscene' way on May 10, 2007.

Mohan, a post-graduate student of Fine Arts at M S University and winner of last year's Lalit Kala Academy award, had been charged under IPC section 153 and 114 after his arrest from the varsity premises for displaying his works at the institution's annual exhibition.