Artist Husain gives up Indian citizenship

MUMBAI (AFP) - Indias best-known painter, MF Husain, who was forced into exile due to death threats from Hindu hardliners, confirmed he had accepted Qatari citizenship in an interview broadcast Wednesday.
The 94-year-old Muslim artist told the NDTV news channel that he had no regrets about giving up his Indian passport, saying it was the only way he could continue working.
At the age of 40, I would have fought them tooth and nail but I just wanted to concentrate only on my work. I dont want any disturbances, he said.
Husain went into self-imposed exile in 2006 in Dubai and Doha when an ultra-nationalist Hindu group offered a reward of millions of dollars for his death after he painted a revered Hindu goddess in the nude.
He said he was now content to be a non-resident Indian and that he had no qualms about losing his nationality, as India does not allow dual citizenship. Whats citizenship? Its just a piece of paper, he said, adding in Hindi: Wherever I find love I will accept it.
In English he added: Ninety-nine per cent of Indian people loved me and they still love me. Im an Indian-origin painter. I will remain so to my last breath. Husain is one of Indias wealthiest painters. In 2008, one of his works fetched 1.6 million dollars at a Christies auction in New York.
Last week Indias Home Secretary GK Pillai said Husain was free to return and that security would be provided for him if he wished.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad - the Hindu group that has spearheaded the anti-Husain campaign with fellow right-wingers the Shiv Sena - said it would be glad if the artist gave up his Indian citizenship.
Since 1996, extremist Hindus have issued death threats against Husain, filed more than 900 court cases, vandalised paintings and threatened gallery owners who wanted to display his works.