Withdraw award for Hussain: Hindu Aikya Vedi

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The Hindu Aikya Vedi has demanded that the State Government repeal the decision to award the Raja Ravi Varma prize comprising Rs.1.25 lakh to artist M.F. Hussain.

Vedi State general secretaries Marad T. Suresh and E.S. Biju told reporters here on Tuesday that the Government should not present the award instituted in honour of an internationally reputed painter like Raja Ravi Varma to Mr. Hussain who had depicted Hindu gods and goddesses in bad light.

They accused Mr. Hussain of painting Saraswathi, Durga and Lord Ganesh in an offensive manner. The Government decision to present the prize to Mr. Hussain was an affront to Hindu religion. This would hurt religious sentiments and affect communal amity in the State, they said.

The Vedi decided to meet Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Minister for Culture M.A. Baby and demand to revoke the decision. If the Government decides to present the prize ignoring the warning, the Vedi will launch an agitation against the Government.

The Vedi, they said, had decided to observe a protest week from September 4 to 10.

It will also launch a signature campaign against the decision.

State working president K.N. Ravindranath, general secretary V.R.Sathyavan and district president Jyothindra Kumar were also present on the occasion.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082254351100.htm