NCP wants Trivedi to apologise to the government

Party spokesman Nawab Malik said Aseem Trivedi has not drawn cartoons of political personalities but affronted national emblems; affirmed that the govt can think of letting him off if he apologises

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the coalition partner in the ruling Democratic Front government in the state has sought an apology from Aseem Trivedi for his cartoons.u00a0

A Sorry would suffice: Nawab Malik with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. Malik’s party colleague R R Patil heads the Home Department, which has booked Assem Trivedi. File pic

Meanwhile, sources from the government said that it had been forced to take precautionary steps as Trivedi’s cartoons had the potential to create social tension.

“Trivedi has not drawn cartoons of political personalities but affronted national emblems,” said party spokesman Nawab Malik. “The government can think of letting him off if the cartoonist apologises,” he added, speaking at the party headquarters yesterday.

Malik’s party colleague R R Patil heads the Home Department, which has booked Trivedi. Speaking with media persons at Nashik, however, Patil has said that his department had nothing to do with the complaint filed against Trivedi. He said that the case was filed in December by a member of RPI.

A senior Democratic Front functionary from the government said that the cartoons had to be taken seriously as they could hurt the sentiments of people, which in turn might lead to social tension.

“The government has no option but to take precaution to prevent any outrage over the cartoons,” he said.u00a0

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