Date:20/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/20/stories/2003012003841100.htm

National

M.F. Husain rejects NGOs' payment offer

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD JAN. 19. M.F. Husain, painter, has dismissed the offer of non-governmental organisations to ``pay'' for the two paintings lost during the recent Asia Social Forum meet conducted here.

Talking to presspersons here on Sunday after the release of his autobiography `Where Art Thou' by artiste, Tyeb Mehta, at his Cinema Ghar, Mr. Husain said: "I am not for money. I have not asked for money from anyone. The paintings are the property of the city.''

The paintings of M.F. Husain and Alex Mathews, which were kept on display at the ASF meet held in Nizam College grounds, were found to be missing after the meet concluded. A complaint was lodged at the Abids police four days after the reported theft.

Claiming his painting to be worth Rs. 70 lakhs, Mr. Husain blamed the ASF organisers for the loss and refused to meet its representatives when they tried to meet him to offer an apology.

The police were investigating the case. "If the paintings are still in the country, they could be found out. But if they have already left the shores, then...,'' he said, leaving the sentence at that.