Kanpur 16 August : The Kanpur Police have filed an FIR against the editor and the management of The Week The Week’ magazine over an allegation that it hurt religious sentiments by publishing a sexist image of Hindu gods.The publication has apologized for an “inappropriate illustration” in a column written by Bibek Debroy, who chairs the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Debroy has ended his relationship with the magazine last week.
The FIR was filed at the Kotwali police station in Kanpur under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious intent of angering religious sentiments) of the Indian Penal Code in response to a complaint filed by BJP leader and former national convener of the Bajrang Dal, Prakash Sharma on 5 August.
The complainant claimed that the magazine had published an offensive image of Lord Shiva and Maa Kali, to go with Debroy’s piece entitled “A tongue of fire’ in its July 24 issue.
“The editor and other people responsible for this unacceptable act should be dealt with with strictness,” Sharma told IANS.
In announcing the apology, V.S.Jayaschandran editor-in-chief of The Week magazine regrets the “unfortunate mistake of judgement by us” in reproducing what he claimed was an 18th century Kangra painting from Himachal Pradesh.The magazine has taken the image off its website.
The author also expressed his protest in an open letter to the magazine, and stated that he will not be an editor with the magazine.
“There exists a weak connection between the text of this article and its image.I’m able to think of numerous better representations of Kali.The image was selected to entertain and excite.That’s at least my perception of the picture,” he wrote.
In the meantime, the Vice of Police (East), Pramod Kumar, and Commissioner of Police (East), Pramod Kumar, stated that the FIR was filed under Section 295A.
He also said that the investigator is being requested to investigate the allegations and take the appropriate actions.
Bajrang Dal workers have also requested to take action against the magazine, and filed a protest through burning copies of the magazine.
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