Gitopadesam draws flak: Parties from Tamil Nadu oppose Sushma Swaraj’s remark
10 Dec 2014 7:21 AM IST
Sushma Swaraj demands that Bhagavad Gita be declared a national scripture
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj
Chennai: While external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s demand that Bhagavad Gita be declared a ‘national scripture’ has stirred harsh criticism across the country, the attacks have been even harsher in Dravidian Tamil Nadu, where the leaders pointed out that such a move has no Constitutional sanction in the secular Indian Republic.
Atheist DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, one of the senior-most politicians in India, slammed Ms Swaraj’s prescription as being a dangerous threat to the secular fabric of India. He hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would dissociate himself from the Gita clamour as that could distract him from the nation’s development agenda.
Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan has urged that all leaders should campaign among the people for all-round support for Ms Swaraj’s laudable suggestion. He recalled the words of Mahatma Gandhi that he gained peace, solace and wisdom from reading the Gita during his days in jail for leading the freedom movement.
The saffron leader also reminded the Dravidian parties that until the DMK came to power (1967), prayers invoking divine blessings were sung in the schools and at government functions. “After these Dravidian parties came to power, they replaced the prayers with Thamizhthaai Vaazthu. Was that not imposing their will on the people?” Gopalan asked.
He said by declaring Gita as national scripture, the world will witness India’s pride and wisdom while our people will develop confidence and secularism. “That Bhagavad Gita belongs to all people is demonstrated by its declaration that whatever path and practice one takes, he would ultimately reach the same divine destination”, the Hindu leader stressed.
Admitting that Gita has “several noble sayings”, PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss pointed out that Koran and Bible too have many noble pronunciations. Accusing the Modi government of trying to convert India into a Hindu State, he said Thirukkural, the repository of great wisdom and human values, must be declared as national scripture.
MDMK chief Vaiko too demanded Thirukkural be made the national scripture as the creation of Thiruvalluvar, the greatest thinker of all times, catered to the people of all faiths through ages.
VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan too voiced similar sentiments and went on to say that Ms Swaraj’s proposal would divide the country on religious lines. “I wonder if all these people who are opposing Gita have read it properly and fully”, quipped BJP state secretary K. T. Raghavan, reacting to the Dravidian opposition to the Swaraj declaration.
He also has an interesting argument ‘When Gita was propounded, there were no Muslims and Christians; so, how do these people say that Gita is against these religions?”
( Source : dc )
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