HJS demonstrates in Mumbai against James Laine

Ashadh Shuddha Chaturthi, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

Devout Hindus agitating against James Laine at Azad Maidan, Mumbai

Mumbai: It is due to the incompetence of Maharashtra Government that the ban on James Laine’s book titled “Shivaji: the Hindu King in Islamic India” was lifted by the Supreme Court. Its publishers “Oxford University Press’ have informed that they would not distribute the book; but there is no official ban on the said book and anyone can misuse it for insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It has been observed that such defamation is presently going on through website which will not be tolerated by Shivaji-devotee citizens of Maharashtra. There has to be official ban on Laine’s book, stringent action should be taken by the Government against Laine so that in future, nobody would dare to write such perverted books. The above demands have been made by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) during demonstrations staged by them at Azad Maidan against the controversial book. The nationalists and Shivaji-devotees participating in the demonstration were holding banners protesting against the Government and raising slogans.

Recently, the Home Ministry of the Central Government has banned a book in Hindi insulting Gandhi-Nehru families titled “Nehru-Gandhi Parivar – Nidharmi Ya Varna-sankar”. Even earlier, the Central Government had banned books viz. ‘Satanic Verses’ by Salman Rushdie and ‘Lajja’ by Taslima Nusreen. Why then Maharashtra Government cannot impose a ban on the book which insults Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj revered by millions of Hindus? All Indians have to bear such insult of their worshipped King as the Maharashtra Government could not take concrete steps against the book. In Shahabano case, the Central Government had acted against the verdict passed by the Supreme Court considering the feelings of Muslims. Now similar justice is expected by Hindus, demanded HJS. The delegation of HJS submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, General Administration Minister, Home Minister and Law Department.

About 60 people took part in the demonstrations including Mr. Nana Masurkar, former ‘Shakha-chief’ of Shiv Sena, Mr. Gajanan Pawar, Shiv Sena Office-chief, Mr. Sunil Mandrekar, research scholar in Forts and Castles and Mr. Harish Vaity, a devout Hindu.

Source: Daily Sanatan Prabhat