India: Commotion by image of Jesus Christ drinking beer and smoking

Pictures of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and a beer can in another in a book for primary classes has triggered a row in India.

Meghalaya police today confiscated a large number of these cursive writing exercise copies and textbooks published by Skyline Publication, Delhi, prescribed in primary classes in Shillong schools, after St Joseph’s School, Jaiaw, filed an FIR against the publisher following complaints by several parents last night.

State Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said legal action against the publishers was being contemplated. “We are now considering legal action against the Skyline Publications of New Delhi who published the controversial textbooks,” Mr Lyngdoh said. “We are now considering legal action against the Skyline Publications of New Delhi who published the controversial textbooks,” Mr Lyngdoh said.

The cursive writing book meant for Class I is a spelling tutor. For the alphabet ‘I’, the word ‘Idol’ is used in the book. Against this word is printed the picture of Jesus Christ with the scandalous representation.

“Just think how this would impact on students at such a tender age,” said Dominic Jala, Archbishop of Shillong.