New Delhi: Lashing out at the central government and political parties for not taking a stand and condemning the "vicious campaign" against noted artist M.F. Hussain, the artist community yesterday came together to express solidarity with him.
After a case was filed against Hussain in a Haridwar court in March 2006 over the alleged distress two of his paintings - Bharatmata (Mother India) and Krishna - caused to Hindus, the court ordered the Mumbai police to attach Hussain's first floor flat at Jolly Maker-III at Cuffe Parade because he failed to respond to summonses to appear before it.
The Supreme Court had suspended the order.
Reacting to the turn of events, the artist community has strongly condemned the campaigns against Hussain. "It's not just Hussain's but the entire artist community's lives which are at stake. Anybody and everybody can file a case against us now. Anyone can infringe upon our lives," said an upset Krishan Khanna, Hussain's contemporary.
'Political issues'
"I spoke to him over the phone after I read the reports and you know what he said? "Let's not discuss these issues, these are political issues. Let's talk about painting," he said.
Equally upset and enraged at the "vicious campaigns" against Hussain, other members of the community like filmmaker Syed Mirza, social activist Nafisa Ali, theatre personality M. K. Raina and a host of other artistes, art critics and art gallery owners came together yesterday afternoon and expressed their support for the maestro.
