The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Deplorable

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Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Deplorable

The reported fatwa issued by Ram Vilas Vedanti, a senior VHP leader and former BJP MP, against DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, is despicable. His announcement that he would gift gold to anybody causing harm to Mr. Karunanidhi is reflective of the arrogance synonymous with the sangh parivar.

The government should not take the threat lightly as fanatics are deliberately upping the ante on the Ramar Sethu issue. It is unfortunate that a secular government has allowed the BJP to take advantage of the situation.

J. Anantha Padmanabhan,

Srirangam

Nobody can issue a fatwa against another in a secular, democratic republic. We are not living in the Middle Ages. At the same time, leaders will do well to exercise care and restraint before saying anything more on the issue. We have enough problems on hand. People living below the poverty line need to be provided with the basic necessities. Our leaders will set better examples if they lift themselves up from the morass of petty party politics.

S.N. Kulkarni,

Bangalore

The fatwa is anti-democratic and condemnable. As the BJP has distanced itself from Mr. Vedanti’s statement, it would be better for all concerned to observe restraint. The Tamil Nadu leaders should avoid comments on religious matters and concentrate on the development aspect of the Sethusamudram project. What is important is the implementation of the project, even if it is through an alternative alignment.

Kumar Krishna,

Bangalore

Mr. Karunanidhi could have perhaps been more diplomatic when he expressed his opinion on the Ramayana and its characters. He, however, has every right to express his views even if he finds himself in a small minority. While the sangh parivar assumes the right to make statements regarding religion and religious figures on a continuous basis, it cries foul when occasional statements containing radically different views are made by someone. As the political arm of the parivar, the BJP is expected to adhere strictly to the democratic principles of free speech and opinion and argue its points on a rational basis.

S. Nityananda,

Bangalore

True, everyone has the right to freedom of speech. But there are restrictions on every freedom in the interest of peace and harmony. Unity in diversity can become meaningful only if the diversity is respected by all.

M.S. Goyal,

Bathinda

It is not fair to say the BJP is trying to gain political mileage out of the Ramar Sethu issue. The party is only defending its belief. As Chief Minister, Mr. Karunanidhi should not have voiced his personal opinion on the Ramayana, which has been the epitome of Hindu belief for centuries. Scientific data are not foolproof and cannot convincingly prove or disprove everything.

Ramya Krishnan,

Kochi

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