The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Protests by Christians across State

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Monday, Jul 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Protests by Christians across State

Demonstrations held at several places; copies of daily set ablaze

Enraged youths ransack ‘Sakshi’ office at Chirala
They also damage window panes of an APSRTC bus

HYDERABAD: Christians across the State strongly protested the publication of an objectionable picture of Jesus in a Telugu daily on Sunday.

Publication of the picture triggered an attack on the office of Sakshi daily in Chirala town in Prakasam district and demonstrations in Nandyal, Guntakal, Anantapur, Guntur, Ongole and Bhimavaram. Copies of the daily were set ablaze in some places.

Sentiments hurt

The picture published in the religion column of the features section of the daily owned by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s son Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy showed Jesus Christ in a manner that was reprehensible and hurt the sentiments of the community, Christian organisations alleged.

Reports reaching the State headquarters said irate Christians attacked the Sakshi office at Chirala. The enraged youth raided the office, ransacked the furniture and threw down the computers.

They also damaged window panes of an APSRTC bus.

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy, Chairman of Jagati Publishers, which publishes the daily, tendered an unconditional apology for hurting the sentiments of Christians. In a statement issued here, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy said: “Sakshi will publish front page apology on Monday.” He sought forgiveness of the Christian community for inadvertently publishing the picture and clarified that the photograph was downloaded from the Internet by a sub-editor, who failed to notice its quality.

Publication condemned

Notwithstanding the apology, Christian and SC organisations condemned the publication. The SC Cell of the Telugu Desam Party at its State executive meeting in Khammam decried the publication of the photo. The Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti founder-president Manda Krishna, All-India Christian United Front, AP United Christian Association and evangelist K.A. Paul too condemned the daily.

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