"The increasing attack on the arts and artists have alarmed us all, but this invasion of the private space of an eminent citizen shows the brazen confidence these forces have recently acquired," said the statement. In a meeting, organised by SAHMAT, the statement was signed by over 125 citizens from the fields of art and literature. From Bhisham Sahani to Shabana Azmi to Anup Jalota: there is hardly a prominent name missing from the list. A delegation of artists, writers and media-persons will meet the President and Prime Minister with the statement as soon as they are back in Delhi.

The statement also questions the miscreants' release "with minor sureties of Rs 1,000 each" and Thackeray's nonchalantthreats issued against Husain.

"This is farcical. The miscreants need to be booked for criminal trespassing, intimidation and destruction of property to prevent such incidents recurring," the artists noted. Meanwhile, the chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, Dr Tahir Mahmood, today said painter M F Husain must refrain from hurting religious feelings. "The touch of obscenity in Husain's paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses is un-Islamic, un-constitutional and immoral," said Dr Mahmood.