The Hindu : Front Page : India voices `deep concern' over snowballing cartoon controversy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 12, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

India voices `deep concern' over snowballing cartoon controversy

Special Correspondent

Outrage expressed in October last itself to the Danish Government

NEW DELHI: The Government on Saturday expressed "deep concern" over the growing controversy on the publication of Prophet Muhammad cartoons in a Danish newspaper and some European dailies.

A statement said India expressed its outrage in October last itself to the Danish government and suggested that apologies be sought and assurances obtained from the newspaper that it will not publish such cartoons in future.

`Actions not acceptable'

"It is incumbent on all of us to be sensitive to the beliefs and sentiments of others and avoid all actions that cause hurt to them [Muslim community]. India's commitment to religious harmony and tolerance is unshakeable and actions that cause hurt to the sentiments of any part of our people are not acceptable,'' the statement said.

Imam's criticism

The Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari alleged on Friday that the Centre and the Congress had remained silent on the sensitive issue.

There have widespread protests on the issue in the past few days in several cities of the country.

Protest march

PTI reports from Lucknow:

Hundreds of Muslims, carrying placards and raising anti-U.S. and anti-Denmark slogans on Saturday, marched to the Uttar Pradesh legislature in protest against the cartoons publication.

The protesters, from various Muslim organisations, burnt effigies of the Denmark government outside the legislature building

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