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An attack on cultural freedom: Mumbaikars

Special Correspondent

Arrested student released on bail

MUMBAI: A cross-section of Mumbai's citizens gathered on the steps of the Jehangir Art Gallery on Monday to protest against the attack on cultural and academic freedom in Vadodara. The Free Chandramohan Committee, which organised the rally, has been formed following the arrest of postgraduate student Chandramohan of the M.S. University in Vadodara on May 9. He was arrrested after a group of Vishwa Hindu Parishad members led by the local Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Niraj Jain, broke into the display of works of final year students of the Fine Arts Faculty and charged Chandramohan with offending religious sentiments. Chandramohan was released on bail on Monday after spending five nights in police custody.

The Mumbai protest is part of a coordinated nationwide protest in several cities, including Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, drawing attention to the incident in Vadodara. The artists, film-makers, gallery owners, trade unionists, women's groups, members of the Rotary Club, journalists, students and many others who gathered in Mumbai on Monday, expressed their concern at the restrictions being put on freedom of expression by a small minority.

"The Vadodara outrage raises serious questions about the State's ability, or even desire, to protect the cultural freedom of individuals. We strongly condemn all attempts by communal forces to violate cultural freedom," the Free Chandramohan Committee said.

Since the May 9 incident, the committee mobilised support from varied quarters in the city. In addition to students and artists, lawyers, businessmen, and a wide range of activists support it.

A group from Mumbai went to Vadodara on Monday to join the demonstration outside M.S. University. Funds have been collected for the legal battle that Chandramohan now faces.

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