Oxford University Press India has issued an apology to Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, over 'unverified statements' made about the Maratha king in a book published over two decades ago. The apology addresses content in 'Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India' by James Laine, which sparked controversy and vandalism in 2004.
Addressing a public rally in Aurangabad late in the evening, in which he was termed as 'Hindu Jananayak', the MNS chief said if Uttar Pradesh government could remove the loudspeakers, what was stopping the Maharashtra government, led by his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray, from doing so.
The development came as the Thackeray-led party is reeling under the impact of Eknath Shinde's rebellion and the loss of power in Maharashtra.
The book, 'Shivaji, Hindu King in Muslim India', allegedly having derogatory comments on the Maratha king, has been at the centre of a controversy.
The Oxford University Press, which had first published the controversial book by US author James Laine on Chhatrapati Shivaji, told the Maharashtra government on Monday that it won't be publishing fresh copies of the book.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had quashed criminal proceedings against Laine.
Shiv Sena executive president Udhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, written by James Laine, should be burnt if it was found anywhere in Maharashtra.
The Oxford Printing Press told the Bombay high court that it was ready to withdraw the objectionable portion from the publication.
The reasons cited for banning the book, published by Orient Longman, include "possible threat to law and order situation and social stability," official sources said.
Even with the Bombay high court lifting the ban imposed on the book by the state government, publishers and booksellers still seem a bit apprehensive about keeping the title on the racks.
'As I watched Sacred Games, I kept flinching at the thought of all the thorns poised to lodge themselves in the sides of the thin-skinned,' says Mitali Saran.
'Many who haven't even seen the documentary are claiming that it defames and damages the image of India, makes it sound unsafe, and gives the rapist a forum.' 'This couldn't be further from the truth, and the film shows the best qualities of India and Indians in standing up against evil as much as it shows the unvarnished truth.'
'The best remedy would be to scrap Section 124-A of the IPC, a colonial vestige, altogether.' 'However, if legislators don't want to do so, they can do two things.' 'They can formally amend Section 124-A to bring it in line with what the Supreme Court has said about sedition.' 'The words which stand on the statute book today were inserted in 1898.' 'The Supreme Court's words are not a part of Section 124-A.'
Reason must triumph over blind faith, says Praful Bidwai in this tribute to murdered rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
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