In a statement, issued jointly by the Bajrang Dal and other organisations here in the city, M F Husain has been asked to apologise for his work.

Strict action be taken against him for his repeated indecent portrayal of gods and goddesses, the statement read. Among those who issued the statement were office bearers Dineshbhai Modi, Maheshbhai Patel and Ashwinbhai Modi.

President of the Haripura Sankalp Sanstha, Kirtibhai Shah, vice-president of the city unit of the VHP Sajjandas Khemani, while criticising the painter, said that his depiction of deities had hurt religious sentiments and that the folly of the artist was unpardonable. ``The Hindus will never forgive Husain for this act'', the VHP vice president said.

He further stated that the government should take proper action against the painter and put him behind bars for the act.

Terming the state of mind of the painter as `perverted', convener of the Surat unit of the Bajrang Dal convener Ashwin Modi said that M F Husain had proved it by portraying Sita in the nude. He further stated that the painter had repeatedly and purposely tried to provoke religious sentiments by portraying the deities indecently.

In a meeting, after burning Husain's effigy, Modi urged the Muslim population of the city to oppose Husain's work and even asked them to take appropriate action against the painter. VHP and BD leaders including Mangalsingh Chopra, BD General Secretary Ramvilasji, Ramdevdasji and others also spoke during the meeting.