New Delhi: Members on Monday created an uproar in
Lok Sabha over a move by a Siberian court to ban Bhagwad Gita
prompting the Government to assure the House that it will make
its stand clear on the issue tomorrow.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said
Government has taken note of the development.
"Bhagawad Gita has an important role in our life. What
happened in Russia has come into Government's notice. External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna will make a statement in the
House tomorrow," Bansal said.
Earlier, members expressed concern over the move and
demanded intervention by the Government. The House had to be
adjourned twice till 4 pm due to the uproar created by
members across the political spectrum over the issue.
"We will not tolerate any move to insult Lord Krishna,"
chanted RJD chief Lalu Prasad who was supported by several
members, angry over reports that a court in Tomsk was due to
pronounce its verdict in a case calling for a ban on the
Bhagwad Gita.
The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Bhratruhari
Mahtab (BJD), who demanded that the Indian Embassy in Moscow
should take the issue up with the Russian authorities. He
asserted that the Gita does not preach hatred.
Demanding that religious freedom of the Hindus in Russia
should not be compromised, he said the ISKCON had also
appealed in this regard to the Indian government.
As soon as he finished speaking, members of Shiv Sena,
BJP, RJD, BSP, Samajwadi Party and even Congress member
Ijyaraj Singh stood up and protested the move. They also
sought an immediate intervention by the government.
Speaker Meira Kumar, while asking them to maintain order
in the House, advised them to submit notices to have a
full-fledged discussion on the subject. RJD Chief Lalu Prasad said the government should lodge a
strong protest with Russia, adding "insult to Lord Krishna and
the Gita will not be tolerated." He said the move by the
Siberian court was a "great conspiracy" against Lord Krishna.
When the House re-assembled at 4 pm, members were allowed
to speak on the issue in the view of the sentiments attached.
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said Bhagwad
Gita was an inspiration for Mahatma Gandhi who followed it in
his entire life. He urged the Government to condemn the move
by the Siberian Court.
"Let the Government condemn it. Let this House condemn
it," Yadav said and asked the Government to take steps to
teach Bhagwad Gita in schools and colleges.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said the issue is related to
sentiments of thousands of people and asked the Government to
understand it.
Hukumdev Narayan Yadav (BJP) said the issue has hurt the
followers of Lord Krishna across the world.
V Arun Kumar (Cong) and Prasanna Kumar Patasani (BJD) also
spoke.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 19, 2011, 21:44