Cartoon row: 'Minister's action understandable'

Walking the tightrope on the issue of publication of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi today said the action of UP minister Yaqood Qureshi offering a reward of Rs 51 crore on the head of the Danish cartoonist was "understandable" but he needed to be "restrained."

No wanting to appear soft on Denmark, the government today made public a letter by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Danish authorities, written "way back in December."

"People holding constitutional posts should maintain restraint," Dasmunshi said. "This is a sensitive matter and a strong reaction is understandable," he said.

Asked to comment on the paintings of M F Hussain, which hurt some sections of the Hindu community, the minister said the painter had already apologised for his conduct. Pressed for a specific comment on the matter, he said, "We don't encourage it, we denounce it."

The government also dismissed reports that it failed to express concern over the row. "What can I do if someone has decided not to see (what the government is doing in the matter)," he shot back when asked about the Left's criticism of the government's slow reaction. "After the Prime Minister's letter, what else is there?" he added.

He said the government had scheduled a full discussion on Iran and India's vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for reporting Iran's nuclear programme to the United Nations on February 23.

"The Prime Minister will be replying to the debate on the evening of February 23," Dasmunshi said.