People's Democracy

Terror Doctor Is Same One Who Led Campaign Against Husain

THE Delhi doctor being investigated for possible connections to the alleged conspirators in the Malegaon blast cases in Maharashtra, Dr Ram Pratap Singh, is the same man who had filed cases against painter M F Husain in Delhi courts in 2006. In the report in the Indian Express, he is mentioned attending meetings with B L Sharma �Prem�. �Prem� is the same man brought by Raghu Vyas to attack the Academy of Fine Arts in Delhi, run by eminent painter Arpana Caur ten years ago (February 23, 1998). Ajeet Caur was injured in that melee and painter Jatin Das was also attacked.

These facts were stated by Sahmat in a press release on November 22 in a bid to �alert the general public to the fact that the campaign against Husain is being run at a very high level in the Hindutva groups and has an extremely serious dimension and is very well coordinated.�

Sahmat pointed out that the website of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, www.hindujagruti.org, which has led the vicious campaign against Husain has also spread completely distorted interpretations and titles of his work. This website is run by the Sanatan Sanstha, also alleged to have links with the Nanded blasts. Sahmat urged the investigative authorities to investigate these websites which are spreading hate speech against artists, other individuals and communities.

Terming this an extremely alarming development Sahmat felt this should be a wakeup call for all to be more much more vigilant to threats from extremist groups.