And a local pol has already threatened that crowds will take to the streets.
Free Speech Death Watch Alert: “Prophet’s picture in UP book raises storm,” from the Times of India, July 29 (thanks to Puneet):
ALLAHABAD: A book titled, ‘Udayimaan Bhartiya Samaj Mein Shikshak’ (Teachers in Emerging India), has raised hackles of Uttar Pradesh’s political
class as well as Muslims for carrying a picture of Prophet Mohammed. Islam doesn’t permit publication of pictures or portrait the Prophet.The picture is on page 403 of chapter ‘Manav Uthaan ke Liye Vibhinn Dharmo ka Yogdaan’ (Contribution of Various Religions In Uplift Of Mankind) of the book written by Yuvraj Dutt, a former faculty member at a post-graduate college in Lakhimpur Kheri.
Dutt told TOI that the Prophet’s picture was freely available on the internet and was downloaded from there. Incidentally, the picture was added in the third edition of the book in 2009.
Responding to a question whether the book was meant for BEd course, UP higher education director Miya Jaan said: “˜”˜The book has never recommended as a textbook. Moreover, district authorities have already banned its sale and publication.– Such books, he said, can never be recommended as textbooks….
Meanwhile, former state minister and senior SP leader Ujjawal Raman Singh expressed dismay. He said SP workers would take to the streets and also raise the issue in the Assembly if the photograph was not removed.