Friday saw the opening of India’s biggest art fair, but surprisingly, the show landed in controversies since the organizers of the fair excluded the fine works of India’s most versatile artist M F Husain, due to fear of Hindu vigilantes who oppose Husain, attacking the fair.

The absence of Husain’s work at the India Art Summit was obviously noticed by those who are ardent fan of the artist. The artist has typically a touch of cubism with classical Indian styles that attracts millions on international art markets.

The culture ministry had issued a statement in which it had said that absence of Husain’s work from the Indian Art Summit will not reflect the true art scenario of the country. However, culture minister Ambika Soni came to the spot to inaugurate the three-day event on Friday.

The artist had depicted the Hindu gods naked in his paintings, which had attracted the art lovers but on the contrary agitated Hindu vigilantes who even attacked his house and destroyed shows displaying his works.

Husain had to leave India due to this, and now he is known to live in London and at times he shifts to Dubai.

Ram Rahjan, a photographer and friend of Husain, informed, “We call ourselves the world's biggest democracy but we are allowing these extremist groups to dictate what can be allowed in the public sphere.”

Even though organizers of New Delhi art summit excluded his works, Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust organized an exhibition named, “Husain Art Summit.”