What is even more inexplicable is why the magistrate would not grant bail tothe student when the law on such matters is very clear -- it has been held inmore cases than one that the "intent" is very important as is the factthat even in the case of exhibitions of art, it has been held that those are forprivate viewing, as against a public display -- since people have a choice whetherthey wish to see such works or not. As against all this, and this bearsrepeating, these impugned paintings were part of an annual appraisal in a finearts institution! There clearly was no intent to create any religious enmity,and if anything, it was the intervention of the VHP goons which seems to havetried to give it those political colours. It is something very basic: an encroachment in the private domain of the University itself. If the police feels free toenter a University today and take cognizance of someone's subjective"outraged sensibility", what is to prevent that happening in homes andoffices tomorrow?
For updates, please see the blogof the Fine Arts Faculty of MS University.