Will consider banning book: Moily

PUNE/MUMBAI: Union law minister M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said the Centre will consider "prohibiting" Joseph Lelyveld's "Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India". He was speaking to reporters at Pune's Congress Bhavan.

Moily said, "We have to think how to prevent such writings. They denigrate not only a national leader but also the nation. People cannot take us for a ride and write anything like this. We will consider prohibiting it."

In Mumbai, Maharashtra industries minister Narayan Rane said in the assembly that his government is considering a ban on the book.

State Congress president Manikaro Thakare, too, condemned the book in the House. Shivajirao Deshmukh, chairman of the legislative council and a CWC member, hoped the government would take action.

Following protests by legislators both of the Congress and other parties, CM Prithviraj Chavan told Krishna Hegde, an MLA from his party, that he would ask the Centre to take steps against attempts to tarnish Gandhi's image.