Indian social activist condemns probable ban on Hindu religious scripture
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Magsaysay Award winner and India's well-known social activist Medha Patkar observed that that it is illogical on the part of Russia to ban Hindu scripture, Bhagavad Gita.
She said this while interacting with mediapersons during a sit-in demo at Varanasi, the temple city in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state on Tuesday (December 20).
She also noted such a move by Moscow could invite the wrath of followers who believe in Bhagavad Gita's tenets.
According media reports, a complainant before a court in Siberia sought a complete ban across Russia, on this Hindu scripture, also known as the Song of the Celestial Bliss.
Significantly, the announcement to ban the book came two days after Indian Prime Minister's visited Moscow.
"Russia has no rights to do this (ban on Hindu scripture, Bhagavad Gita) and when people would raise their voices against this move, then Russia would also accept fault committed by them," said Medha Patkar.
The ban could strain relations between the two countries, as the decision would hurt the sentiments of Hindus.
A day earlier on Monday, the ongoing winter session in Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian Parliament) was disrupted over this issue and the lawmakers demanded Indian government for a diplomatic intervention.
Commenting on the controversial Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill, Patkar said that she is hopeful that the federal government would live to the expectations of the people and ensure an effective institution of Lokpal.
"We are still hopeful with whatever Salman Khurshid (Indian Law Minister) is saying about the new Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill. He has said that the Bill would be placed in the parliament under his supervision that it includes issues related with violation of citizen's charter which would be considered as corruption because this is a Constitutional Bill which we present and which is in favour of Dalits (socially lower caste) and underprivileged section of the society and is not against them. We want to convey this message to all political leaders, including Lalu Prasad Yadav (chief of regional Rashtriya Janata Dal), Mayawati (head of regional Bahujan Samaj Party and Chief Minister of northern India's state of Uttar Pradesh) and Ramvilas Paswan (of regional Lok Janshakti Party) and many parties have also extended their support to it," added Medha Patkar.
The proposed Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill drafted by veteran activist Anna Hazare and his associates representing the civil society envisage the setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog to check financial mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded several democratic and civic institutions of India.
The government's version of the Bill has faced flak from Hazare and opposition parties alike, who view the contours of the draft as being too weak.
Renowned social activist, Medha Patkar says that Russia has no right to ban Hindu scripture, Bhagavad Gita and is only inviting the wrath of followers who believe in it's tenets.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (DECEMBER 20, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. SOCIAL ACTIVIST, MEDHA PATKAR, STAGING A SIT-IN DEMONSTRATION WITH A GROUP OF ACTIVISTS
2. CROWD OF PROTESTORS SITTING
3. PROTESTORS SITTING AT A GROUND
4. PATKAR SITTING
5. A PROTESTOR SITTING
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S FAMED SOCIAL ACTIVIST, MEDHA PATKAR, SAYING:
"Russia has no rights to do this (ban on Hindu scripture, Bhagavad Gita) and when people would raise their voices against this move, then Russia would also accept fault committed by them."
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S FAMED SOCIAL ACTIVIST, MEDHA PATKAR, SAYING:
"We are still hopeful with whatever Salman Khurshid (Indian Law Minister) is saying about the new Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill. He has said that the Bill would be placed in the parliament under his supervision that it includes issues related with violation of citizen's charter which would be considered as corruption because this is a Constitutional Bill which we present and which is in favour of Dalits (socially lower caste) and underprivileged section of the society and is not against them. We want to convey this message to all political leaders, including Lalu Prasad Yadav (chief of regional Rashtriya Janata Dal), Mayawati (head of regional Bahujan Samaj Party and Chief Minister of northern India's state of Uttar Pradesh) and Ramvilas Paswan (of regional Lok Janshakti Party) and many parties have also extended their support to it."
8. A GROUP OF PROTESTORS SITTING
9. PROTESTORS SHOUTING SLOGANS
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