The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Law is supreme

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Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Law is supreme

Sir, — While religious zealots see the arrest of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswathi, as an opportunity to bring together all Hindus to rally against the Tamil Nadu Government, the fact that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, herself a staunch follower of Hindu traditions, gave the go-ahead to the police cannot be missed.

As for the argument that politicians are treated differently, just because some who deserved punishment have escaped the law does not mean the seer is immune to prosecution.

R. Shanmugam,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — For the Acharya, who has renounced the world, the four walls around him — either within the Mutt or the jail — have no meaning. The firebrand Hindu organisations, therefore, should wait for the law to take its course before indulging in protests.

Venkat Manthripragada,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — The scathing attack by the Hindutva forces on the police is a ploy to camouflage the embarrassment caused by the arrest of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi. They seem totally unconcerned about the murder of another Hindu in the precincts of a temple.

S.K. Choudhury,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — Where were these people when Sankararaman, a trusted devotee of the paramacharya of the Mutt, was murdered? It will be better if these forces remain neutral and let the law take its course.

N. Kandaswamy,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Bad is the gruesome murder of an honest person, worse is the allegation of abetment by a saint, and worst is the politicisation of the issue.

S. Sivasundar,
Sriharikota, A.P.

* * *

Sir, — The actions of various religious heads in Andhra Pradesh such as going on a day's fast, refraining from offering naivedhyam to the presiding deities, etc., are an insult to the Hindu religion. The manner in which they are inciting the people does not do the religion proud.

K.V. Subba Rao,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — Those opposing the Acharya's arrest are barking up the wrong tree. Does the onus of protecting the honour and dignity of a religious institution lie with the Government and the police or with the religious leaders who are at the helm of affairs? Do those protesting the arrest of the Acharya realise the implications of granting immunity to religious leaders?

Ashok Shetty,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — All those who follow the Sanatana Dharma should feel distressed over the way the Acharya has landed in such a predicament, rather than express anger at the way the arrest was handled.

T. Siva Rama Krishna Sastry,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — Let the investigation be completed before we cry hoarse.

P. Divakaran,
Guntur, A.P.

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