Congress leader Digvijay Singh expressed grief over the treatment extended by communal forces in India to the famous artist MF Husain making him to leave his motherland and accept citizenship from Qatar. Husain remained under fire by some Hindu outfits due to his controversial painting of some Hindu Gods and Goddesses-date back to the 1970s.

Singh articulated, "Acceptance of Qatar's citizenship by famous artist like Husain is very unfortunate. It is a big defeat of those people whose ideology is liberal and who believe in communal harmony."

The Congress general secretary defended the Indian government and said that it was due to repeated harassment to Husain, one of the country's most celebrated painters, by saffron activists the artist remained in a life of self-exile for a long period.

Singh said that the matter is discussed at high level and truth would be presented before the people.

The development is seen as a blot on India's image as a liberal democracy in the World.