2 Shiv Sainiks detained for protest against M F Hussain

New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Two Shiv Sena activists were taken into preventive detention by the police today after they shouted slogans and damaged a painting of renowned artist M F Hussain worth Rs 1.5 lakh at the art gallery of the India International Centre here.

Shouting slogans like 'M F Hussain Deshdrohi Hai(M F Hussain is a traitor) and 'M F Hussain Ko Phansi Do(M F Hussain be hanged)', the activists were protesting against the exhibition being held under police protection.

They damaged the frames of two paintings. One of the damaged paintings depicted Emperor Akbar and was priced at Rs 1.5 lakh, while there was minor damage to the other painting. The activists also distributed pamphlets which threatened to disrupt any exhibition of Hussain in the country.

Twenty graphical prints of Hussain's paintings were on display at the show. These works were described as a tribute to the history of Indian cinema.

Speaking to UNI after the detention of the activists, Shiv Sena Northern Region chief Jai Bhagwan Goyal said, ''By allowing the exhibition of Hussain who is on the run from the country after the court issued summons against him for portraying the Hindu Goddesses and Bharat Mata in the nude, the government is playing with our sentiments.'' Mr Goyal lambasted the UPA for its ''double standards'' in dealing with Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen on one side and Hussain on the other.

''UPA has a separate formula for dealing with Taslima and an altogether different one for Hussain. Why? In the name of creative freedom, Hussain is painting the Goddesses indecently and sells them for crores of rupees in the West.'' He demanded that the painter should be dealt with strictly by the government, saying that its present attitude was not acceptable.

UNI