By IANS
Ahmedabad : Shivaji Panikkar, the suspended dean of the fine arts faculty of the M.S. University in Vadodara who has irked Hindu groups by supporting his students' creative expression, was injured here Friday when Bajrang Dal activists attacked him as he was going to inaugurate a painting exhibition.
Pannikar, who is in the forefront of an ongoing agitation by students against curbing of freedom of expression, was here to inaugurate a painting exhibition on communal harmony by school students. As Panikkar's car arrived at the venue two dozen Bajrang activists started hurling stones and tar drums at him.
When the slogan-shouting activists tried to get physical with him, members of the NGO Anhad, which had organised the show, whisked him away. His car was damaged and its windowpanes smashed.
"Since the Bajrang Dal activists were not carrying any banners we presumed they were visitors who had come to view the paintings," said Shabnam Hashmi, who termed the attack as "yet another example of the state of affairs in Gujarat under the present government". Panikkar has lodged a complaint with the police.
The controversy erupted after the May 9 arrest of student Chandra Mohan following Bharatiya Janata Party leader Niraj Jain's allegation that his art work was objectionable. Panikkar angered the Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Bajrang Dal combine after he came out in support of Chandra Mohan.
Jain and other VHP-Dal activists had protested against Mohan's paintings which were part of an examination and not for the public. They walked into the examination hall where exhibits were being evaluated. They said the works hurt their religious sentiments. Acting on their complaint, the police had arrested Mohan, who was given bail on May 14.
The incident triggered a confrontation between the M.S. University authorities and the students and faculty. The arts department was closed and sealed. Panikkar is under suspension.