New Delhi: Law Minister M Veerappa Moily
on Tuesday said there were no plans for any fresh law or changes in
existing laws to deal with publications which cast aspersions
on national heroes like Mahatma Gandhi.
Reacting to media reports which quoted him as favouring a
ban on the latest book on Gandhi, Moily said he was in favour
of self-regulation.
"My stand is that since the author has himself denied any
adverse remarks on Mahatma Gandhi, no further action is
required," Moily said here.
The Minister said the perverse inferences on Gandhi
appeared to be a result of the reviews of the book. "Why
should we give more publicity to such things? The image of our
national heroes cannot be sullied like this," he said
Moily said such "stray" events did not warrant any
changes in the existing laws. In response to his reported
remarks on the need to amend the Prevention of Insult to
National Heroes Act, 1971, the minister said "It is better for
writers to self regulate. I don't think any changes to
existing laws are required at the moment. It will not serve
any purpose."
PTI
First Published: Friday, April 01, 2011, 00:22