News that National Media Censors - Muslim Vandalism in Chennai
Singha, Sulekha
Mar 7, 2008
http://forums.sulekha.com/forums/coffeehouse/News-that-National-Media-Censors-806613.htm

Aurangzeb art expo cancelled after objections

An art exhibition on the life of the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb was today cancelled following directions from police after some Muslim individuals objected to two paintings showing demolition of temples in Somnath and Mathura on the ground that they would disturb peace in Tamil Nadu.

Four persons, including Mr R Saraswathi, a volunteer of the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (Fact), the organisers of the exhibition, have been detained for interrogation, a senior police official said.

If found innocent, they would be let off, he said.

The foundation is run by Delhi-based French journalist Francois Gautier. Police said some Muslims, who came to the Lalith Kala Academy, the venue of the exibition, raised objections to the paintings, depicting Aurangazeb's forces demolishing Hindu temples at Somnath and Mathura.

They claimed that the pictures were sending wrong messages which could lead to communal hatred following which we asked Fact to cancel the exhibition, the official said. The exhibition which opened on 3 March was scheduled to run till March 9. Earlier in the day, regional secretary of the academy Mr RM Palaniappan told reporters that he was waiting for orders from the Delhi headquarters on cancelling the show.