Husain sorry for ‘nude’ painting

Mumbai / New Delhi (PTI): Under attack from Hindu organisations for allegedly painting Bharatmata in an obscene manner, M.F. Husain apologised on Tuesday. The painting was withdrawn from a Delhi auction.

The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and the VHP had attacked him after the painting was displayed on many websites.

Sharan Apparao, curator of Apparao Galleries in Delhi where the painting was to go under the hammer on Wednesday, said she had been receiving numerous calls demanding its withdrawal.

“There were many calls, mostly from Maharashtra. Some of them were using abusive language which I think is not acceptable.

“But, basically some of them were saying remove the nude painting. ‘Don’t sell India, why is Mother India being shown nude?’ ” she said.

Alert on water table decline

Ludhiana (PTI): Water management experts have forecast that the water level in the central districts of Punjab will fall between 70 and 160 ft by 2023 due to over-exploitation of ground waters by farmers.

“Ground water is being overdrawn by farmers especially for rice plantation. The level in the central districts comprising Moga, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala would rapidly come down to an alarming stage by 70 and 160 ft by 2023,” Punjab Agricultural University’s additional director of research G.S. Hira said.

The table in 95 per cent of central zone areas of Punjab has dipped to over 30 ft with a rate of 2 ft per year.

Minister post

New Delhi (PTI): Minister of state Dasari Narayana Rao has been stripped of the mining portfolio, but would retain coal.

An official communique on Tuesday said the President, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, has made Rao the minister of state for coal.

Bomb scare

Mumbai (PTI): A bomb squad was called in on Tuesday after an unclaimed bag created panic at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. However, no bomb was found, an official source said, adding that there were no threatening calls or messages.

Slipper at judge

Mumbai (PTI): An accused hurled a slipper at a judge on Monday, infuriated at being awarded life term for a dacoity. The fast-track court judge, however, dodged Rajkumar Sharma’s slipper. He was taken into custody for contempt of court, but said he did not repent for his action.

Around 40 writers from Asia and Africa would participate in a two-day meet ? The Africa Asia Literary Conference ? at Neemrana in Rajasthan, starting next Wednesday.