High command joins issue with Maha CM on Mistry's book

NEW DELHI: The Congress has refused to share Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan's views on Rohinton Mistry's book "Such A Long Journey", and called for tolerance as enshrined in the Constitution.
While Chavan felt that the language of the book was `highly objectionable', the Congress leadership on Tuesday took a more liberal view by insisting that authorities should be more circumspect in banning works of literature and art."Any imposition of restrictions on a literary work should be decided with the greatest circumspection," party spokesman Manish Tiwari told reporters.
Asked if Chavan's statement had put Congress and the Shiv Sena on the same page, Tiwari dismissed the suggestion by pointing out ideologically the two parties were poles apart.
"The Shiv Sena and Congress can never be on the same side of a political debate because our idea of India differs very radically from theirs," he said. He, however, pointed out that Congress could not be blamed for the decision since the education portfolio in Maharashtra is with its alliance partner NCP.
He said, since Bombay University was an autonomous institution, the matter should be taken up with the varsity authorities.
Congress, he said, would favour affirmation of freedom guaranteed by the Article 19 of the Constitution.