The Hindu : Rationalists' charter for parties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 28, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Rationalists' charter for parties

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JAN. 27. The Federation of Atheist, Rationalist & Humanist Associations (FARA) has presented the political parties with a charter of demands that include a call to separate religion from politics.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the FARA co-ordinator, N. Innaiah, said all the political parties, including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Telugu Desam, appeared positive about the issues mentioned in the charter. "We hope they will try to implement the points raised by us," he said.

Among other things, the charter has demanded that elected representatives should take the oath on Constitution and not in the name of religion, stop promoting godmen and unscientific beliefs such as `vastu'.

"The Government should stop hosting `gurus' and `babas' and do away with the practise of making amends to Government buildings in the name of `vastu' advise," Mr. Innaiah said.

The association asked the political parties to restrain their members in Legislative Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha from rushing to the podium and disrupt the proceedings and also advise them against staging walkouts.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh