Home minister R.R. Patil on Monday told the state legislative Assembly that despite the Supreme Court lifting the state’s ban on James Laine’s book on Chhatrapati Shivaji — Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India — the book’s publishers, Oxford University Press, will not be printing the book in the state. Mr Patil also promised the Assembly that a stringent law would be devised to penalise anyone defaming iconic figures and playing with the sentiments of the people.
After a heated debate on Mr Laine’s book, the minister assured the Assembly that the publishers has communicated to the state that not only would they be not printing the book, all sold copies will be withdrawn. Moreover, the author himself has apologised, saying that the controversial portion on page 93 of the book should not be published, he said.
Though action can be taken against similar defamation of iconic figures under Section 153 (1) of the CrPC for spreading discontentment, Mr Patil said that a committee will be formed, headed by the advocate-general and comprising additional chief secretary (home) and secretary, law and judiciary. It will ensure that a stringent law is enacted before the next Assembly session to take action against anyone publishing, or even speaking anything derogative about a public iconic figure, that hurts the sentiments of people of any cast, creed or religion.