Cannot target national symbols in cartoons: Government

As rights activists criticised the government for arresting a cartoonist for an allegedly derogatory cartoon, the government on Monday said that such artists should stay within constitutional limits and not make national symbols the target of cartoons.

As rights activists criticised the government for arresting a cartoonist for an allegedly derogatory cartoon, the government on Monday said that such artists should stay within constitutional limits and not make national symbols the target of cartoons.

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Information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni told reporters that the government had no problems with cartoons, but they should stay within constitutional parameters and added that they cannot make national symbols the object of their cartoons.

She was speaking after a furore erupted over the arrest of Aseem Trivedi for allegedly uploading a derogatory cartoon on his web portal.

Trivedi, 25, an activist of India Against Corruption (IAC), was picked up on Saturday evening by the Mumbai police following a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him.

He is accused of uploading ugly and obscene matter on his web portal and for putting up objectionable banners insulting the Indian constitution during Anna Hazare's anti-corruption agitation here last December.

The IAC too, on Monday, demanded that Trivedi be unconditionally released and the baseless charge of sedition be withdrawn instantly.