Hindu Group Offers Reward for Killing Artist Who Draws Obscene Hindu Deities

February 24, 2006

Source: United Press International

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060224-023529-6738r

On February 24, 2006 United Press International reported, "An Indian Hindu group is offering a reward to anyone who beheads artist M.F. Hussain, who likes to produce obscene paintings of Hindu deities. The Hindu Personal Law Board said Hussain is as guilty of demeaning Hindu deities as a Danish cartoonist was when he drew cartoons portraying the Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist, touching off violent protests across the Muslim world. 'Those who are endangering religion and nation, should be eliminated for everyone's good,' said Ashok Pandey, president of the board. 'Anyone who kills Hussain for making obscene paintings of goddess Sarswati and Bharat Mata, the Danish cartoonist, those in the German company printing pictures of Ram and Krishna on tissue paper and the French filmmaker desecrating Lord Shiva will be given (the reward) in cash.' WebIndia.com reports both President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been asked to take action against Hussain. UNI reports the Hindu Janajagriti Samiti is demanding Hussain's arrest."