NEW DELHI: The observations by a judge of the Allahabad High Court that the Bhagvad Gita should be made the national “dharma shastra” has evoked strong reactions.

Legal experts came out against the observations of Justice S.N. Srivastava in an August 30 judgment that the Gita should be made the national “dharma shastra.”

Union Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj said that “for Muslims, it is the Quran and the Christians have the Bible. Every religion has its own dharma shastra, so how can we say it [Gita] is for the entire nation.”

“We have to respect the scriptures of other religions. Therefore, the observation needs to be ignored. It does not apply to everybody,” he said.

In Lucknow, Member of Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rashid said that “we and our religious leaders are also shocked at this Constitutional expert’s judgment.”

Media personality Saeed Naqvi said: “The Bhagvad Gita is a part of our culture and they are trying to make it a religious text.”

The former Chief Justice of India, V.N. Khare, said: “It is a personal view which you [the judge] cannot impose in a judgment.” “What he [the judge] says is not Constitutional,” he added.

A leader of the saffron brigade, B.P. Singhal, came to the rescue of Justice Srivastava and said the remarks were “not made as a Hindu but as a judge, he has justice in his mind.”

Mr. Justice Srivastava’s observation on the Gita were made while hearing a petition filed by a priest of a Varanasi temple over the dispute involving a temple property.

The judge said the Gita had greatly inspired those involved in the freedom struggle and continued to inspire people from all walks of life. “Hence, it is the duty of every citizen of India under Article 51-A of the Constitution of India, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, to follow dharma as propounded by the Gita,” he said. — PTI

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