FIR registered against Lokamat- A popular Marathi daily at many police stations in Maharashtra
By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,
Mumbai: Copies of Marathi daily – Lokmat – were burnt at many places in Maharashtra by some Muslim groups, who were purportedly angry, for the alleged derogatory image that the newspaper carried in its Sunday edition.
Paper cutting of Loksatta Newspaper, where ‘derogatory’ cartoon was published
Today Lokmat published on the front page of its supplement ‘Manthan’ an article with the name ‘ISIS cha Paisa’ (ISIS’s money) that has a morphed image of “swine” having ‘Allah Rasul Muhammad’ written on its face. It is actually taken from the ISIS flag that has a seal inscribed with these names in a white circle.
On first appearance, the image appears to be only of a piggy bank where money in different currencies are flowing.
Consumption of pork meat is prohibited in Islam and thus Muslims consider pig to be a dirty and filthy animal therefore the above morphed image in Lokmat led to protest in backlash in several parts of the state.
Copies of the tabloid have also been burnt during protests with the appeal to the masses to boycott the newspaper. As per sources cases have been booked against the editor and writer of the article at police stations in Aurangabad, Jalna, Pune, Jalgaon, Parbhani and Yavatmal.
Meanwhile, the editor of the daily has extended immediate apology for the derogatory image with an assurance that it will take immediate action against guilty for the publication of objected derogatory image.
Few years back the same daily had reported that after ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), its work is being carried by its another organization with name Students Islamic Organization (SIO). This publication too had faced protest and the news paper had to offer unconditional apology after a case was booked against it in Aurangabad police station.
Meanwhile, social media is flooded with the appeal to boycott this newspaper and a call is being made to gather before offices of Lokmat in respect cities and town to protest.
Moiz Ansari, city President of All India Momin Conference has scheduled a protest against the tabloid at a square in Jalna on December 4 after Friday prayer and the associates of the Conference have started to circulate the appeal calling masses to remain present.