Creative community rallies behind M F Hussain

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) Artists and creative community today came out in support of self-exiled painter M F Hussain, facing criminal charges for allegedly outraging Hindu sentiments, saying he was being targetted by ''fundamentalist forces'' because of his religious affiliation.

Scores of artists, including photographer Ram Rahman, theatre personality M K Raina, painter and Hussain contemporary Krishen Khanna, poet Ashok Vajpayi, art critique Geeta Kapur, filmmaker Sayed Mirza and painter Vivan Sundaraman, came together under the banner of SAHMAT, at a press conference to garner support for the 91-year-old painter.

They severely critised the government for not providing Hussain protection to return home.

Claiming that a ''vicious'' campaign was being orchestrated against the world-renowned painter, Rahman said Hussain, living in London at present, was being targetted for being a successful Muslim figure.

''Right wing Hindutava forces backed by political parties are targetting him...In the last decade several cases have been filed against Hussain in BJP ruled states for works which are more than 40 years old,'' he said.

A Haridwar court recently ordered Mumbai Police to attach the property of Hussain for his repeated failure to appear before it in connection with the criminal case.

The criminal complaint accused the painter of hurting religious sentiments of people with his controversial paintings, including that of 'Bharat Mata'.

However, yesterday Supreme Court stayed the attachment proceedings.

The artists called upon Parliamentarians as well as UPA leaders to clarify their stand clear on the issue.

''The UPA government is silent on the issue...Its time Parliamentarians, particularly those with from the artistic community, clarify their stand,'' demanded Geeta Kapur who read out a letter, signed by more than 100 artists, suggesting to President A P J Abdul Kalam that Hussian be awarded India's highest civilian honour the 'Bharat Ratan'.

''Hussain is a great son of India and his contribution to our culture is immense...He should not be harassed,'' she added.

Announcing that the community will mobilise finances to fund Hussain's legal battle, Ashok Vajpayi said an attack on Hussain was an attack on India's culture.

''It is shameful that a person like Hussain is being put through such an ordeal...Its a political and legal conspiracy.

How can a person who has painted the entire Ramayana and Mahabharta be accused of hurting religious sentiments,'' said Vajpayi.

He said India was being pushed back into medieval ages where people are being denied freedom of expression.

UNI