DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Monday condemned External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s declaration that only a formality was left for making the Bhagavad Gita the national scripture. He said instead of allowing his Cabinet colleagues to stir up controversies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should put the country on the path of progress.
“Even though the BJP government is taking several good initiatives, these controversies seem to earn a bad name for the government. While it is making one step forward, these unnecessary controversies pull it two steps backwards. This is the opinion of neutral persons,” he said in a statement here.
While addressing the ‘Gita Prerna Mahotsav’, organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Delhi, Ms. Swaraj seconded the opinion of VHP president Ashok Singhal and declared that only a formality remained to be completed in this regard.
“India is a secular state and its strength lies in unity in diversity,” Mr. Karunanidhi said. He recalled West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s argument that the Constitution is the national scripture of India.
Mr. Karunanidhi said that ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, it had created controversies by talking about teaching Hindi and Sanskrit and organising ‘Guru Utsav’ instead of Teachers Day. “A speech of the minister that India is the country of Hindus led to the Prime Minister expressing his regret. Now, it has brought on itself another problem.”
A shock: VCKViduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan said Ms. Swaraj's announcement had come as a shock to the people of India, as they were expecting the BJP government to set right the economy that was in dire straits.
Recalling Dr. Ambedkar's opinion that the Gita was “purely a backward-looking religious book,” he said democratic forces could not accept it as the national book, given the country’s religious and cultural pluralism.
