A day after posting controversial tweets about Lord Ganesha from his official Twitter account, film director and producer Ram Gopal Varma on Saturday apologised, saying he did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments.
Lawyer and activist Shehzad Poonawalla had on Friday had lodged a police complaint against Mr. Varma in New Delhi for hurting religious sentiments.
Many questionsIn a series of tweets posted, he posed several questions. One of them was: “I would really love to know from Lord Ganesha’s devotees a list of what obstacles he removed in all the years they prayed to him.” The tweets evoked several angry comments from his followers and following the angry reactions, he later clarified that his questions and observations stemmed from his innocence and ignorance. “I think my films are flopping only becos of my attitude towards Gods ... I wish I can become a devotee,” he said.
HJS complaintThe Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) had on Friday filed a police complaint against Mr. Varma at the Ponda police station in Central Goa accusing him of insulting Lord Ganesha.
Surjit Mathur, who filed the complaint on behalf of HJS, has demanded that the police register a FIR against Mr. Varma.
The HJS filed the complaint under Sections 295, 295-A, 298, 505 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66-A of the Information Technology Act.
(With additional reporting by Prakash Kamat from Panaji)
