Indian painter sorry for nude art

By Nick Bryant
BBC News, Delhi

This is not the first time Mr Husain's work has caused controversy

India's most famous artist has apologised for a painting in which he represented the country as a nude goddess.

Maqbool Fida Husain also promised to withdraw the controversial painting from a charity auction.

Hindu nationalist groups had accused the artist of hurting their religious sentiments.

Mr Husain had donated the painting to a charity auction to raise money for the victims of the South Asia earthquake.

Police complaints

India is often portrayed in popular culture and arts as a mother goddess.

But the 90-year-old artist took that a controversial step further by painting the goddess without any clothes.

In response, two hardline Hindu groups lodged formal police complaints.

It is not the first time that India's most famous contemporary artist has provoked the ire of Hindu nationalists.

Ten years ago, there were huge protests in Mumbai after he painted a whole series of nude Hindu goddesses.

His home in the city was even ransacked by an angry mob.