Hussain exhibition continues in the capital

NEW DELHI: An exhibition of controversial painter M F Hussain continued in the capital on Friday amid tight security despite an attack on it by activists of the Shiv Sena.
    
The 11-day 'India in the Era of Mughals' exhibition attracted a large number of art lovers, including former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee on the last day on Friday, to the India International Centre where the 92-year-old artist's 20 grahic prints are on display.
    
Anticipating violence, police has deployed more personnel, including women, at the venue and the exhibition passed off incident-free, organisers and police said.
    
Visitors to the gallery were captured on camera and screened thoroughly, they said, adding the painting which was damaged in the attack was not put on display on Friday.
    
The exhibition ended a day after two activists of the Sena damaged the frame of a painting to protest its holding, alleging that Hussain had insulted Hindus by depicting their Gods and Goddesses in bad light.
    
The protestors had on Thursday threatened to disrupt the exhibition today also if the organisers went ahead with it.
    
This is the first major exhibition of Hussain's works in Delhi after a gap of about 20 years.
    
The exhibition ran into rough weather last week with the organisers deciding to suspend the display for a day last Saturday after curator Dolly Narang and the IIC received threat calls, allegedly from the Bajrang Dal.
    
Hussain's alleged obscene portrayal of Hindu Goddesses had invited the wrath of Sangh Parivar.