No fresh prints of Laine's book on Shivaji: Oxford

Oxford University Press (OUP), which had first published the controversial book by US author James Laine on Chhatrapati Shivaji, today told Maharashtra government that it won't be publishing fresh copies of the book.

OUP India Managing Director, Manzar Khan, has written to the government, assuring that the publishing house won't be printing more copies of the book, Home Minister R R Patil told PTI here.

"OUP India has no intention of coming out with a fresh publication on Laine's book pursuant to the judgement of the Supreme Court," Khan said in the letter.

"It has never been the intention of OUP to hurt the sentiment of any section of our society," the letter said.

"The book was withdrawn from circulation from November 21, 2003. Oxford University Press has no copies of the book with them," the letter said.

"The author has also given an affidavit of undertaking that the said paragraph on page 93 of the book would be deleted from all future publication of the book worldwide," the publishing house said.

Patil said that following this statement by Oxford University Press, the furore all over the state on Laine's book should subside.

The state government would come out with a legislation to act sternly against those defaming iconic figures, he added.