Offensive Jesus picture sparks outrage in Meghalaya

An objectionable picture of Jesus holding a beer can and a cigarette in a primary school textbook has sparked outrage among Christians in Meghalaya.

The picture appeared in a cursive writing exercise book of Class I students of St Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School in capital Shillong.

With the Church expressing strong indignation, police registered a case against the Delhi-based publisher and also seized all copies of the textbook from schools and bookshops.

Approximately 70% of the 2.32 million people in Meghalaya are Christians.

Dominc Jala, the Archbishop of Shillong, said he was "shocked and hurt by this act where Jesus Christ has been portrayed in a highly objectionable manner."

Reportedly, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has asked all its member schools across the country to ban the publisher and further demanded the government to take strong action such objectionable publications.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, meanwhile, said a police team would be leaving for Delhi soon to carry forward the investigation.

"We have registered a case under Section 295(A) against Skyline Publications of New Delhi for hurting religious sentiments. We have seized the books from the distributor as well as the school where it was supplied," Syiem told PTI.

The repugnant picture was first brought to the notice of the church authorities by shocked parents of the school. For the alphabet I the word Idol is used and the 'controversial' picture along with it.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), representing the mainline protestant and orthodox churches, condemned the act and said it "hurt the sentiments of Christians in the country."

Vice President of the NCCI, Rev PBM Basaiawmoit, demanded that the publisher offer an unconditional apology through all channels of communication media.

Besides writing a letter to the publisher demanding an apology, Basaiawmoit also sent a copy of the book to Union Education Minister Kapil Sibal.