Noted painter M F Husain, who was booked by the police for allegedly hurting sentiments of people by painting gods in the nude, Wednesday apologised and promised to withdraw from an auction his controversial painting depicting Bharatmata in an obscene manner.
Following persistent protest by Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Vishwa Hindu Parishad against Husain displaying the painting on Websites and in an exhibition in New Delhi, the painter Wednesday said he apologised to the people for the same and promised to withdraw the picture.
"The proceeds of the auction are said to be utilised for the victims of Kashmir earthquake," HJS said in Mumbai in a release Tuesday, urging for immediate, strong action against Husain.
HJS has also filed a case with Mumbai and Thane police and appealed to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take action against such "anti-national and perverse attitude of great aritists", Ramesh Shinde, HJS spokesperson said.
The HJS is already holding protests in Maharashtra, Goa, Karanataka and Andhra Pradesh against Husain's other such paintings, depicting Hindu goddesses in the nude.
Reacting to his apology, VHP national coordinator Venkatesh Abdev said, "Husain has been doing this for the last so many years and every time he apologises and goes scot free. What is the use of apologising every time and doing the same thing again and again, that too at this age?"