Govt, legal experts react on HC remarks on Gita
New Delhi, Sept. 11 (PTI): The Allahabad High Court's observations that the Bhagvad Gita should be made the national 'dharma shastra' today evoked strong reactions from Government which said the remarks should be ignored and scriptures of all religions should be respected.
Legal experts also came out against the observations of Justice S N Srivastava in an August 30 judgement that Gita should be made the national 'dharma shastra'.
Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said "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 (Geeta) 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.
"No judge can think like this, that there should be no freedom of religion or conscience," Bhardwaj said.
In Lucknow, Member of Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rashid said "we and our religious leaders are also shocked at this Constitutional expert's judgment".
Noted media personality Sayeed Naqvi said "Bhagvad Geeta is a part of our culture and they are trying to make it a religious text".
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.
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