BJP lists “objections” in the arts controversy

The BJP came out in support of the right wing groups that were behind the arrest of Vadaodara art student C Srilammantuala writes Shekhar Iyer.

The BJP came out in support of the right wing groups that were behind the arrest of Vadaodara art student Chandramohan Srilammantuala and closure of an exhibition in the university there, listing “objections” to the displayed works.

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BJP’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha V K Malhotra said, “No body can defend the exhibits in the name of art for art’s sake or artistic freedom. They clearly hurt the Hindu as well as Christian religious sentiments.”

Distributing copies of report on the incidents on the campus of the Maharaja Sayajirao University and details of the“objectionable exhibits”, Malhotra said the works of art created by the students of the faculty of fine arts were highhly deplorable.

According to a list distributed by him, one of the “so-called” work of art was a huge Christian cross where Jesus was portrayed in a sexually explicit pose.

Similarly, a painting showed a woman about to deliver a baby, titled as “Durga Mata.” Similarly, Vishnu and Shiva were also depicted in a highly derogatory manner.

Other “derogatory” paintings included “naked Sita on the long tail of Hanuman”, Hanuman in a sexual pose, Hanuman standing opposite to Sita sitting on the thigh of a naked Ravana, nude portrait of Goddess Saraswati, and sacred bull in copulation with a woman shown as Parvati.”