Gujarat riot video dropped from exhibition in Beijing

After prodding from the government, a short documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots has been removed from an exhibition on contemporary Indian art currently underway in Beijing.

"There was a video exhibit that was about four-odd minutes long ... it had some politically controversial overtones. Our mission had taken it up with the organisers and since then the organisers have removed that exhibit," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters.

He said the exhibit was part of the Indian Highway Art exhibition organised by Serpentine Gallery, Londo and the Astrup Feamley Museum of Modern Art, Norway, and inaugurated by India's Ambassador to China S Jaishankar last month.

Sources said the short film carried random interviews with people about the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002.

Twenty nine Indian artists and more than 60 works are featured in the exhibition. Before Beijing, the exhibition was mounted in London, Oslo, Herning, Lyon, New Delhi and Rome.

BJP termed the exhibit as "objectionable" demanded the government seek an explanation from the Ambassador for inaugurating the event which "showed India in poor light."

"The short film on Indian democracy shows India in poor light higlighting the Godhra-related incidents alone and showing that Indian democracy has failed. This is completely objectionable," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

"The ministry should call the Indian Ambassador and seek an explanation from him," she said.

On the reported misbehaviour of some members of a youth delegation during their visit to China, Akbaruddin said the Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs had taken strict notice of the matter and action has been taken.