Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday directed officials to take action against a website named Indic Tales for alleged derogatory articles on Savitribai Phule. At the time of going to the press the website had been taken off the internet. “The CM has directed the Chief Secretary to verify the alleged controversial contents of the website and proceed with proper action,” a senior CMO official said.
Indic Tales has published articles that have several objectionable things in it. Several political as well as social institutions had raised objections and lodged complaints against it. Taking cognizance of the complaints, Shinde ordered for action against the website, the official said.
Objectionable article on Savitribai Phule
The CM also said that the government shall not tolerate any objectionable content against any of the revered figures of the society anymore. “While writing about revered personalities of our society, it should be well researched and the authors, publishers should ensure that it won't lead to disrespect any of the respected personalities,” CM said.
NCP's complaint to Mumbai Police
Earlier in the day, a delegation of senior NCP leaders including Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil met senior police officials demanding action against Indic Tales and Hindu Post over alleged derogatory articles.
A letter signed by Pawar, Patil and Bhujbal addressed to the city police chief claimed the Indic Tales and Hindu Post websites have posted objectionable articles against Phule, regarded as a pioneer in the field of female education. The letter alleged the act was done with a purpose to incite people.
“This is the Maharashtra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar. Any act of insulting Savitribai Phule will not be tolerated. We strongly protest against it,” the letter said.
Party workers also staged protests outside the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office.
On Monday, Bhujbal wrote a letter to CM Shinde, seeking action against the website and an author of an allegedly offensive article on Phule.
Contents of the Controversial Articles
The article published on Indic Tales, titled "Why Hindu Female Teachers before Savitribai Phule are not Recognized," attributes the information to @Bharadwajspeaks. It alleges that Savitribai Phule's school was sponsored by British missionaries and questions the British motives for supporting her project. The article goes on to claim that the British used Indian women to fulfill the sexual needs of their soldiers stationed in military cantonments, terming it "surgical rape."
