The NDTV office in Ahmedabad has been ransacked by Hindu rightwingers for running a poll on whether MF Husain should be awarded the Bahart Ratna.
Activists of the virtually unknown Hindu Samrajya Sena group on January 19 barged into NDTV's office, broke furniture, destroyed studio equipment and even smashed the air-conditioners and other electrical fittings.
The channel's website reported: [Link]
One of the staff member, who was in the office at the time, was attacked and beaten up with hockey sticks. The attackers plastered NDTV's office with poster and banners describing the channel as traitors and demanded an apology.
The same group had threatened NDTV two days ago. It is believed to be affiliated to the Shiv Sena. The police took more than an hour to respond to the incident despite phone calls. However, they have finally registered a case.
Another report had some other details:
After this they put up posters and banners, proclaiming NDTV anti-national and a traitor because the channel ran an opinion poll, asking who should be awarded the Bharat Ratna. One of the choices was painter MF Husain. NDTV called the police and even the commissioner of Police. But no one showed up for one hour, even though the NDTV office is just 15 minutes away from the police station.
Finally, the home minister promised action. ''This is very wrong. I condemn the attack. The police are investigating. Strict action will be taken,'' said Amit Shah, Gujarat Home Minister.
The Indian Express carried some backgrounder on Gujarat becoming the hub of cultural and religious intolerance:
The attack on NDTV office is the latest in a spate of incidents related to cultural and religious intolerance in the state. Such incidents date back to mid 1990s when the Husain-Doshi Gufa was attacked in 1997 because Husain was allegedly making “unpatriotic” paintings.
The Gufa, a marvel in modern architecture in its own right, had to be closed for a long period. And when it reopened after a few years, it was attacked again. The authorities, which are supposed to take action, showed exemplary restraint, as they seemed wary of hurting common sentiments.
In fact, Hussain has been the favourite punching bag of the moral police in Gujarat and elsewhere because for his knack of courting controversy. Earlier also he was criticised for his portrayal of goddess Saraswati (1996) and Sita (1998) and more recently of Bharatmata (2006).
But from this, one need not have a feeling that Husain has been the only target of the moral brigade. Freedom of expression per se has come under the saffron scanner time and again irrespective of its form and the performers.
For instance, the films made with themes surrounding the post-Godhra riots were targetted for its content. Rakesh Sharma’s “Final Solution” (2004) and Rahul Dholakia’s “Parzania” besides Amir Khan’s “Fanaa” (2007) and “Taare Zameen Par” (2008) are a case in point.
While the first two films faced the rage for their attempt to put the majority community in poor light, the latter two were opposed because Aamir had raised voice for the Narmada evacuees.
In these cases, the authorities clearly said that there was no “official” ban on the movies, which implied that popular sentiments could not be curbed even if a set of individuals take law into own hands.
The most glaring case of intolerance was seen during the persecution of Chandramohan Srimantula, a student at the Faculty of Fine Arts at M S University of Baroda. He was slapped with a criminal case for painting Durga and Shivlinga in an “objectionable” manner in view of the BJP activists led by Niraj Jain.
