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February 14, 2014

Publisher Penguin today blamed India's "intolerant" laws for its decision to pull and pulp a book on Hinduism in the country, that sparked a furious free speech row.

Days after agreeing to withdraw a 2009 book "The Hindus: An Alternative History" to settle a court battle, Penguin India insisted it was committed to free thought and expression.

But Penguin said it also "has the same obligation as any other organisation to respect the laws of the land in which it operates, however intolerant and restrictive those laws may be."

"We also have a moral responsibility to protect our employees against threats and harassment where we can," its statement added.

Penguin drew fire from writers and champions of free speech over its decision on Monday to pull the book rather than fight the case, brought by an activist group which took offence at the depiction of the Hindu religion.

The book's author, American scholar Wendy Doniger, said she was "angry and disappointed" all copies would be pulped in India, but she defended Penguin, part of the publishing giant Penguin Random House.

Doniger also said she was "deeply troubled" about what the decision meant for free speech in India.

Booker prize-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy this week called on Penguin to explain why it "caved" in to the academics even though there "was no fatwa, no ban, not even a court order".

In an open letter to Penguin, her own publisher, Roy said: "There will soon no doubt be protestors gathered outside your office, expressing their dismay."

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