Clerics protest against pictorial representation of Prophet Mohammad

By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,

Lucknow: Infuriated over pictorial representation of Prophet Mohammad in a text book, the Muslim clerics demanded action against the publisher and action against the concerned authorities on Tuesday. Letters have been faxed to National Commission for Minorities (NCM) for taking cognizance of the incident.

The alleged picture has appeared in a text book of Class IV titled ‘Moral Education Ethics’ published by Active Mind Publications, Allahabad. The book is written by Chandra Prakash and is approved by ICSE boards and is in circulation across the country including several schools in Lucknow. Muslims have objections over the depiction of Prophet through a caricature in Chapter-6, Being Good and Gentle, on page no.35

"We are living in a secular country where hurting religious sentiments is an offence. This act has been done deliberately by the publishers and ICSE board. Islam does not allow any pictorial representation of Holy Prophet and we demand its withdrawal," said Maulana Hashmi Miyana Kichauchvi on Tuesday.

The clerics also lashed out at the Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibbal for not reacting to such an act. "The ICSE board is under the control of HRD ministry. The school education is also under Sibbal's ministry. If he is so busy to overlook such matters, he should relinquish the ministry," he said.

Responding to a query, the cleric stated that indecent pictorial representation of Hindu deities by MF Hussain was also not justified and due to this Indian soil eluded Hussain even after his death.

"Indian government very well knows the after effects of such an act. It has been done in European countries but we will not tolerate it anymore. It is not our weakness and if the NCM fails to act and the controversial books are not withdrawn, the Muslims will not hesitate to take the issue to street," he said.

Meanwhile, members of Sunni Markaz which is spearheading the agitation stated that they had contacted the publisher of the book at Allahabad. The publishers Sheetla Singh stated that nearly eight lakhs such books have been printed which are in circulation in nearly 800 schools of the country. "We also appeal to the schools to shun such books which can hurt other's sentiments," he said.