Pune: Bhandarkar Prachyavidya Research Institute (BPIR) has demanded that the book authored by James Lain, a non-Indian, containing objectionable matter about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rashtramata Jijabai and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj should be immediately banned by the Govt. The information about the demand was disclosed by Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, the President of the Organization and a senior Computer expert in a press conference.
Although the ban proposed by the State Government has been lifted by the Mumbai High Court, there is an important decision given by the Supreme Court on 6th May 2007 conferring power to the State Governments that they can take a decision to bring ban on any book if the public peace is likely to be affected. Based on this decision, the managing committee of the Institute has unanimously made the above demand, informed Dr. Bhatkar.
Shri. Dhadafale, the honorary Secretary of the Institute admitted that the controversial matter from the book was inadvertently not withdrawn from the official website of the Institute. A few days back, some organizations worshipping Chhatarpati Shivaji took an objection to the matter published on the website and demanded to put a ban on the website. The matter was later checked by the concerned and found controversial, confessed Shri. Dhadafale. He also admitted that it was a lapse on the part of the Institute.
The Institute received a threat that it should come out with its view on the book by James Lain and it was also threatened that if not done so, faces of concerned persons will be blackened. The press conference was therefore, held under tight security.
Source : Daily Sanatan Prabhat
Related HJS sections
>Defamation: Abuse on Hinduism