The Mayawati Government has ordered a inquiry by the Crime Branch of CID (CB-CID) into an article published in the latest edition of a news magazine, “ Ambedkar Today”, which contained derogatory references liable to hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. The article was carried in the May edition of the magazine.
The Government has also ordered the seizure of the copies of the magazine and has directed the district magistrate of Jaunpur to initiate proceedings for cancelling the title of the magazine. According to an official spokesman, the CB-CID probe was ordered at the behest of the magazine's editor, who suspected a conspiracy behind the move to publish the controversial article.
“Ambedkar Today” is considered to be the mouth piece of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party, but the publication of the article, which contained objectionable references towards Hindu religion, was reportedly not taken kindly by a section of party men. The magazine's editor is a close relative of a senior BSP functionary holding the rank of a Minister of State.
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In response to a show cause notice issued by the State Government, the editor admitted that the article contained objectionable and derogatory references towards a particular religion. Feigning ignorance about how the article was published, the editor said since he has not been keeping well it was not possible for him to monitor each and every story that goes for print. Expressing regrets, the editor said had he seen the article it would not have been published.
Interestingly, some senior BSP ministers are the patrons of the magazine, which was also entitled for a regular supply of government advertisements, due to their influence. The controversial article is said to have been written by one Ashwini Kumar Shakya of Morena district in Madhya Pradesh.