An art exhibition on the life of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was closed down in Chennai on March 6 following protests by a section of visitors who objected to the “communal nature” of some of the exhibits. The exhibition was inaugurated on March 3 and was scheduled to be open till March 9. However, some visitors raised a protest against two paintings showing demolition of temples in Somnath and Mathura.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Triplicane) M. Ramasubramani reportedly said the management of Lalit Kala Akademi, where the event was being held, told the exhibition organisers ‘Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism’ to close down as they apprehended law and order problems. The Foundation is run by Delhi-based French journalist Francois Gautier. Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, in a statement, welcomed the cancellation of the exhibition in view of its communal content. He added that the exhibition would unnecessarily create communal disharmony in a State reputed for its secularism.