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Mumbai cops asked to ban anti-Sikh jokes on
Net
WSN Network
MUMBAI: Sikhs have for years been
the subject of many a politically incorrect racist and often crude
jokes, but as awareness about cultural rights and poltical
correctness dawns, things are bound to change. Buoyed by a
successful campaign against a publisher of joke books, members of
the Sikh community have now approached the Mumbai police to block
any form of humour on the net targeting them.
The cyber cell department of the crime branch has received a plea
asking it to "ban jokes on the internet" which portray Sardars as
objects of ridicule.
Community heads feel the jokes, many of them bordering on the
obscene, have begun to have such a demoralising effect on Sikh
youths that they feel "ashamed when they interact with members of
other communities."
The latest provocation was the publication of the Santa and Banta
Joke Book found stocked by a Matunga-based book publisher. Ranjit
Parande had been selling copies of the book for the last year and a
half.
On Sunday, nearly 25 Sikh youths from a youth body, Sikh Media and
Culture Watch (SMCW) gathered in front of the Shivaji Park police
station demanding Parande's arrest.
Based on a complaint filed by Sikh businessman Mohinderpal Nanksingh
Kakar (42), the police have now arrested Parande under section 295
of the IPC which is non-bailable in nature. The section deals with
"hurting religious sentiments."
21 March, 2007
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