West Bengal chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, on Sunday came down heavily on the Centre's proposal to introduce astrology in the curriculum of universities saying it amounted to threatening science with religious bigotry. Science in India is now being threatened with religious bigotry reminiscent of the dark days of 19th century Europe. Attempts are being made to place astrology in the same pedestal as astronomy, Bhattachrjee said in a strongly worded speech inaugurating the 125-year celebration of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Kolkata. It is inconceivable that at a time when science has been offering treasures for the benefit of mankind, forces of retrogression seek to darken the horizon of India, he rued.
Calling the UGC proposal a sort of confrontation between science on the one hand and obscurantism and faith on the other, he said a pseudo-science was being sought to be promoted in the garb of science. Bhattacharjee said instead of harping on such issues the need of the hour was to solve the basic problems of millions of the country's population like diminishing resources and ecological hazards. It is necessary to draw up a national planning on correct lines to make optimum utilisation of the country's resources. He regretted that destructive powers of science were being revived at the global level through preparation of a nuclear missile defence shield, of which India and Pakistan were also a part.
Bureau Report