Meerut: Some Shiv Sena activists on September 16 burnt copies of the September 11 issue of 'India Today' news magazine for printing picture of Lord Ganesh holding a cricket ball, allegedly made of leather, claiming that Hindus have been hurt as leather goods are prohibited during poojas.

The city Shiv Sena chief, Jaipal Singh Rathore, in a memorandum to the district magistrate, Meerut, urged that such persons who "dared to defame Lord Ganesh to earn money, should be penalised so that none would dare to play with the sentiments of believers of any religion".

He demanded the publisher of the weekly magazine tender apology in the magazine to the Hindu community for "committing the offence".

Copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the President, the Prime Minister, Union Information Minister and Press Council of India by the party unit.

PTI