Deities pictures on underwear causes furore

[Sourav]

Orissa govt protests use of deity's image by US firm



From The times of India

Strongly protesting the use of Hindu deity's image allegedly by an American website to market its products, the Orissa government on Monday said it would take up the matter with the US Embassy.

"We will certainly protest this and also ask the Centre to initiate appropriate action in this matter," Orissa's Law Minister B B Harichandan said here.

The minister's reaction came a day after a group of the followers in Puri filed an FIR against the e-shopping website accusing it of hurting religious sentiments by using Lord Jagannath's image in the advertisement of undergarments.

The "mischief" played by the website had severely hurt the sentiments of Hindus. The state would like to ensure that strong actions were taken against those indulging in practices that amount to incitement of religious tension, he said.

Sources said the police had already registered a case against the American website. "We are now examining what best can be done to prevent such incidents," said Puri district Superintendent of Police, Asit Panigrahi.

The website has a range of apparel products using different images of Hindu gods like Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Laxmi, Hanuman.

"The website had also tried to insult India as a nation by displaying Indian National Flag, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other respected persons in the underwear," said Rathindra Mishra, an advocate in Puri.

Deities pictures on underwear causes furore

From deccanherald.com

Police in Orissas temple-town, Puri, are investigating the reported attempt by a website to sell undergarments with pictures of three deities on them.

The police began looking into the matter after receiving a formal complaint from a local organisation about pictures of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra being used on the garments. “We have launched our investigation after receiving a report from the Kalinga Sena”, the inspector in charge of Puri town police station, Alekh Chandra Pahi told Deccan Herald on Monday.

The matter has already become a major topic of discussion in the state’s cultural and religious circles. Several individuals and organisations including the BJD-BJP government in the state have condemned the act.

“If such garments are being sold by the website, the state government will definitely take appropriate action to stop that. The people should also come forward and stop buying these garments”, the state Law Minister, B B Harichandan said.

Describing the case as extremely sensitive, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Asit Panigrahi said it will be thoroughly investigated and if charges are proven, cases will be registered against the website under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Orissa government has severely condemned the matter and urged the people to reject the merchandise.

*****************************************************

Sourav: The website in question is Cafepress.com. Click here for the domain details.

Some of the products that are creating the tension can be found here => http://www.indiansinfrance.com/anarya

It's not only limited to insulting the religion. In some pictures, they are insulting the whole nation, India.

Some more related links -



http://www.hinduhumanrights.org/hindufocus/hindufocus.htm
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa111900a.htm
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa073000a.htm
http://www.dsquared.org/pottymouthseats.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3790315.stm
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/NewsDetails.asp?News_id=12872
http://hodja.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/og-sa-er-det-et-koran-toilets%C3%A6de-denne-gang/