Indian lawmakers condemn Gita 'insult' in Russia
Monday December 19, 2011 07:37:36 PM,
IANS
|
New Delhi: Parliamentarians across the political spectrum Monday condemned
what they called an "insult" to the Bhagvad Gita after a member
pointed to an IANS report that the ancient Indian treatise was
facing the prospect of being branded as "extremist" literature and
banned in Russia.
MPs urged the government to ensure the religious rights of Russian
Hindus are protected and an explanation is sought from Moscow over
the issue, following which the Lok Sabha was promised that
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna would speak in the house
Tuesday.
Angry MPs forced two disruptions of the Lok Sabha after Biju
Janata Dal leader Bhartruhari Mahtab raised the issue during Zero
Hour in the house and asked the government to intervene
immediately because it had threatened the religious freedom of
Hindus in Russia.
The house was adjourned till 2 p.m. and then till 4 p.m. Peace
returned to the house after a short discussion was allowed in the
Lok Sabha. At least eight MPs spoke on the matter.
Mahtab raising the issue said a court in Siberia's Tomsk city was
hearing a case filed by state prosecutors, as was reported by IANS
Saturday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on an official
visit to Moscow.
The case, which has been going on since June, seeks a ban on a
Russian translation of the "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" written by A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).
It also wants the Hindu religious text banned in Russia, declared
as literature spreading "social discord", and its distribution
rendered illegal in Russia.
Indians in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the
Iskcon religious movement in Russia have appealed to the Indian
government to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issue.
"I want to know from the government what it is doing. The
religious rights of Hindus in Russia should be protected. The
government should impress upon the Russian authorities through
diplomatic channels," Mahtab said, asserting that the Indian text
"doesn't preach hatred".
Shouting the slogan "Bolo Krishna Bhagwan ki jai", Lalu Prasad of
the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RLD) said "any insult to Gita is an
insult to Lord Krishna".
"This will stir anger among millions of Krishna devotees in the
world. Let this parliament pass a resolution and send a protest
note to Russia against this insult," Lalu Prasad said.
Many members recited shlokas from the Gita to assert that the book
teaches the essence of life, the art of living and striving.
BJP MP Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav said India should lodge a protest
with the Russian authorities and the case in the Siberian city was
an "insult to the entire humanity because Gita is not a
religion-specific book and it concerns all human beings".
Arun Kumar Vundavalli of the Congress also condemned the incident
but he also seized the moment to drive home the point that MPs
need to learn from the Gita, be disciplined and not create
disruptions in parliament.
"Let's stick to the rule book. Gita teaches us to work without
caring about returns. Let's not fight and let the house run
smoothly," he said.
Winding up the short discussion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister
P.K. Bansal assured the house that S.M. Krishna will be speaking
Tuesday after he gets the full details of the case. "We are all
united over the issue and I respect the sentiments of the house."
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
Cabinet clears food bill, defers Lokpal approval
The union
cabinet Sunday approved the draft National Food Security Bill,
which seeks to provide subsidised foodgrains to over half of
India's 1.2 billion population.
The bill is likely to be presented to parliament
»
Will Sonia Gandhi's food bill pass muster?
Working on Lokpal bill, Anna should be patient: Government |
|
Most Read |
India-Pakistan ties: A year of building trust
"Trust, but
verify." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's watchword on
re-engaging Pakistan found traction in 2011 and saw the troubled
post-26/11 ties turning a corner, with the leaders of both
countries resolving »
|
Kim's death: Will India-North Korea ties improve?
India is
closely watching developments in North Korea following the death
of its longtime leader Kim Jong-il, which could improve New
Delhi's ties with the reclusive country whose nuclear programme
and
»
North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il dies |
|
News Pick |
AIMPBL
campaign for amendments in RTE Act, Waqf Bill
begins Tuesday
A countrywide campaign by the All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPBL) to mobilise support for amendments in the existing Right » |
A clerk who made Rs.30 crores!
He is a government clerk. But when officials raided his premises
Sunday, they found to their shock he had assets worth Rs.30 crore
including land, cars, jewellery and several bank accounts. The
Economic Offences Wing of the Madhya Pradesh » |
Declining sex ratio attributed to misuse of
medical technology
Demographers and development specialists Sunday
identified the misuse of advanced medical technology as a major
factor responsible for the decline in the sex ratio in Rajasthan
and other northern states
» |
|
Picture of the Day |
 |
Jamia Vice- Chancellor Najeeb Jung
confer the degree of "Doctor of Letters"( Honoris Causa) on
Prof. Amartya Sen at a special convocation, in New Delhi on
Friday.
(Photo: IANS) |
|
|
|