Rahul Gandhi's caricature taken down by Congress, claims cartoonist

MANGALURU: Cartoonist Satish Acharya today claimed that his cartoon depicting Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi besides a giant-sized Prime Minister Narendra Modi was removed by municipal authorities following directions of angered party leaders.

The cartoon shows Gandhi hiding behind Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to protect himself from the giant-sized Modi who trying to catch him.

The works of Acharya, a popular cartoonist, are usually displayed on a fixed hoarding in Kundapura town in Udupi district which is called a 'cartoon corner'.

Reacting to the development, Acharya told reporters he has been drawing cartoons related to all political parties but has courted trouble for the first time.

He claimed he got a call from a local Congress leader soon after the cartoon came up on the hoarding, asking him to remove it.

He said the hoarding was removed the next day itself by municipal authorities on the pretext of clearing billboards in the town.

Municipal authorities removed the hoarding allegedly after instructions of Congress leaders, who described the cartoon as "demeaning and distasteful", he said.

When contacted, the municipal authorities said it was a part of a beautification drive of the town.