<p>A cartoon depicting rape-accused former bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal, has led to controversy in Kerala.</p>.<p>The cartoon that shows Franco holding a stick with an undergarment on it instead of a sceptre was selected for the best cartoon award of 2018-19 instituted by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, an organisation affiliated to Kerala government meant for promotion of visual arts.</p>.<p>Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council has alleged that the cartoon that hurt the sentiments of Christian believers was deliberately given the award as the ruling left-front in Kerala was under the impression that the Christian community did not favour them in the recent Lok Sabha polls.</p>.<p>Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister A K Balan, who denied the allegation, said that the Akademi would be asked to review the award in the wake of the concerns expressed by a section of the Christian community. There were no political interventions in the award selection done by a panel of eminent persons, he said.</p>.<p>The controversial cartoon was drawn by well-known cartoonist in Kerala, K K Subash, who has been drawing cartoons over the last 17 years. Apart from Franco, the controversial cartoon also depicted CPM MLA P Sasi, who also faced sexual allegations, and P C George MLA, who had earlier spoken in favour of Franco.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the nuns who have been fighting against Franco suspected that a recent transfer of DySP K Subash who probed the case against Franco could be part of attempts to sabotage the case.</p>
<p>A cartoon depicting rape-accused former bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal, has led to controversy in Kerala.</p>.<p>The cartoon that shows Franco holding a stick with an undergarment on it instead of a sceptre was selected for the best cartoon award of 2018-19 instituted by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, an organisation affiliated to Kerala government meant for promotion of visual arts.</p>.<p>Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council has alleged that the cartoon that hurt the sentiments of Christian believers was deliberately given the award as the ruling left-front in Kerala was under the impression that the Christian community did not favour them in the recent Lok Sabha polls.</p>.<p>Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister A K Balan, who denied the allegation, said that the Akademi would be asked to review the award in the wake of the concerns expressed by a section of the Christian community. There were no political interventions in the award selection done by a panel of eminent persons, he said.</p>.<p>The controversial cartoon was drawn by well-known cartoonist in Kerala, K K Subash, who has been drawing cartoons over the last 17 years. Apart from Franco, the controversial cartoon also depicted CPM MLA P Sasi, who also faced sexual allegations, and P C George MLA, who had earlier spoken in favour of Franco.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the nuns who have been fighting against Franco suspected that a recent transfer of DySP K Subash who probed the case against Franco could be part of attempts to sabotage the case.</p>