After Tamil Nadu chief minister, another Indian chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has questioned the historical existence of Ram, the Hindu God.http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1134600
Buddha questions existence of Lord Ram
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has stoked another controversy by questioning the existence of Lord Ram.
"Ram was born in the imagination of poets and Ram Sethu is a natural formation under the sea," Bhatacharjee told a meeting to mark the 15th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid on Thursday.
He said the Sethusamudram project was being opposed by the Sangh Parivar on religious ground, but it was vital for economic development of the region.
Reacting to Bhattacharjee's remarks, state BJP general secretary Rahul Sinha on Friday said the remarks were an attempt to appease the Muslim vote bank after the fiasco in Nandigram.
"Ram is a matter of faith and Communists had always hated godmen. Even they spread calumnies against Tagore and Swami Vivekananda," he said.
Bhattacharjee's remarks came months after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's similar remarks on the existence of Lord Ram which had generated a country-wide controversy.
19.9.07
Where is proof Ram built bridge, asks Karunanidhi
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/217566.html
Chennai, September 16: Though the Centre has decided to withdraw its controversial affidavits on the existence of Ram, expressing regret for hurting religious sentiments, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has come down hard on “communal forces” for using the “myth” of Ram Sethu to stall the Sethusamudram project.
Karunanidhi’s remarks more offensive than affidavit: BJPSethu: ASI DG wants more time to file reply on affidavitSethusamudram: Baalu says will seek SC go-aheadIn turf war to get close to Sonia, Ram is new tool: after Ramesh, Dhawan attacks SoniNow, BJP wants legal action on affidavit fiasco
Warning the Centre against succumbing to communal forces, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, at a function in Erode on Saturday night, said: “Who is this Raman (as Lord Ram is referred to in Tamil)? In which engineering college did he study and become a civil engineer? When did he build this so-called bridge? Is there any evidence for this?”
“The withdrawal of the affidavits does not mean that the project is being withdrawn,” Karunanidhi told reporters at Yercaud near Salem. “If it amounts to the project itself being shelved, then the DMK, which adheres to scientific, rational and progressive ideals, will not accept it.”
On whether there was any difference of opinion between the DMK and Centre on the issue, he retorted: “The conflict is between us and communal elements. It is between us and dominant forces that are using superstitions of the people to stall the project and achieve their ends. It is not a conflict between us and the Union Government. Our stand is that the Centre should not succumb to these communal elements.”
At Erode, Karunanidhi said: “The latest attempt to stall the Sethusamudram project is by a group of jackals, conspirators and dangerous elements. Their objective is to subvert a major project that would usher in development in the southern parts of our state.”
In a resolution which he read out at the function, Karunanidhi warned the Government against giving up the project in the name of Ram Sethu. The Ramayana, he said, was only “a piece of fiction that allegorically represented the conflict between Aryans and Dravidians”.
The Tamil Nadu CM blamed “communal elements” and even Sri Lanka for stalling the project, “a long-cherished dream of Tamils”. “The opposition to the Sethusamudram project was an attempt to destroy the Dravidian movement,” he said. The Centre, he advised, should not be intimidated by threats from religious elements and delay a project that the Prime Minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had agreed to implement.
Chennai, September 16: Though the Centre has decided to withdraw its controversial affidavits on the existence of Ram, expressing regret for hurting religious sentiments, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has come down hard on “communal forces” for using the “myth” of Ram Sethu to stall the Sethusamudram project.
Karunanidhi’s remarks more offensive than affidavit: BJPSethu: ASI DG wants more time to file reply on affidavitSethusamudram: Baalu says will seek SC go-aheadIn turf war to get close to Sonia, Ram is new tool: after Ramesh, Dhawan attacks SoniNow, BJP wants legal action on affidavit fiasco
Warning the Centre against succumbing to communal forces, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, at a function in Erode on Saturday night, said: “Who is this Raman (as Lord Ram is referred to in Tamil)? In which engineering college did he study and become a civil engineer? When did he build this so-called bridge? Is there any evidence for this?”
“The withdrawal of the affidavits does not mean that the project is being withdrawn,” Karunanidhi told reporters at Yercaud near Salem. “If it amounts to the project itself being shelved, then the DMK, which adheres to scientific, rational and progressive ideals, will not accept it.”
On whether there was any difference of opinion between the DMK and Centre on the issue, he retorted: “The conflict is between us and communal elements. It is between us and dominant forces that are using superstitions of the people to stall the project and achieve their ends. It is not a conflict between us and the Union Government. Our stand is that the Centre should not succumb to these communal elements.”
At Erode, Karunanidhi said: “The latest attempt to stall the Sethusamudram project is by a group of jackals, conspirators and dangerous elements. Their objective is to subvert a major project that would usher in development in the southern parts of our state.”
In a resolution which he read out at the function, Karunanidhi warned the Government against giving up the project in the name of Ram Sethu. The Ramayana, he said, was only “a piece of fiction that allegorically represented the conflict between Aryans and Dravidians”.
The Tamil Nadu CM blamed “communal elements” and even Sri Lanka for stalling the project, “a long-cherished dream of Tamils”. “The opposition to the Sethusamudram project was an attempt to destroy the Dravidian movement,” he said. The Centre, he advised, should not be intimidated by threats from religious elements and delay a project that the Prime Minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had agreed to implement.
Lord Ram an imaginary character: Karunanidhi
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14528452&vsv=SHGTslot1
Erode: Charging communal forces with attempts to stop the work on the Sethusamudram project by invoking the name of Lord Ram, DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said Ram was an imaginary character and Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) was man-made.
'Some say there was a person over 17 lakh years ago. His name was Ram. Do not touch the bridge (Ram Sethu) constructed by him. Who is this Ram? From which engineering college he graduated? Is there any proof for this?' Karunanidhi, a known atheist, asked at a public meeting.
Addressing the meeting here late on Sunday night on the occasion of DMK founder C N Annadurai's 99th birth anniversary he said people of Tamil Nadu had lot of faith in religious matters and some thought that their emotions could be easily whipped up by quoting the name of Ram.
If the Sethusamudram project was completed, Sri Lanka might face economic difficulties and Tamil Nadu would prosper, he said adding some Sri Lankans might have whispered to some here that Tamil Nadu should never become prosperous.
'Only to prevent the good scheme, they got hold of the name of a person who was supposed to have lived 17 lakh years ago', he said.
He claimed that the opposition to the project was part of a large conspiracy by 'some jackals, who wanted to destroy the Dravidian movement'.
Erode: Charging communal forces with attempts to stop the work on the Sethusamudram project by invoking the name of Lord Ram, DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said Ram was an imaginary character and Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) was man-made.
'Some say there was a person over 17 lakh years ago. His name was Ram. Do not touch the bridge (Ram Sethu) constructed by him. Who is this Ram? From which engineering college he graduated? Is there any proof for this?' Karunanidhi, a known atheist, asked at a public meeting.
Addressing the meeting here late on Sunday night on the occasion of DMK founder C N Annadurai's 99th birth anniversary he said people of Tamil Nadu had lot of faith in religious matters and some thought that their emotions could be easily whipped up by quoting the name of Ram.
If the Sethusamudram project was completed, Sri Lanka might face economic difficulties and Tamil Nadu would prosper, he said adding some Sri Lankans might have whispered to some here that Tamil Nadu should never become prosperous.
'Only to prevent the good scheme, they got hold of the name of a person who was supposed to have lived 17 lakh years ago', he said.
He claimed that the opposition to the project was part of a large conspiracy by 'some jackals, who wanted to destroy the Dravidian movement'.
1.8.07
Woman tortured for not adopting husband's religion
source: http://www.indiaenews.com/religion/20070801/63477.htm
A Muslim woman in Orissa has alleged that she is being tortured for refusing to adopt her Hindu husband's religion.
Mana Khatun, 19, of Haladia village in Kendrapada district, about 100 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, married Kalindi Sethi, 25, a Hindu youth of the same village last month at a local temple.
'Soon after the marriage, my husband and in laws pressurised me to adopt Hinduism. When I refused to convert, they physically tortured me and drove me out of the house,' Mana said Tuesday.
The woman also alleged that she sat in front of her husband's house for hours asking to be let in but in vain.
'At the time of the marriage, the girl was aware of my son's religion. She has no right to remain a Muslim after marrying him,' said Kulamani Sethi, 53, Kalindi's father.
'On the occasion of the holy Ratha Yatra (chariot festival) last week, members of our community decided to change her name from Mana Khatun to Manasi Sethi after performing a purification ritual as per Hindu religious practice. But she did not agree to change her religion or her name,' he said.
Mana says that even after marriage she continued to offer the Namaz and perform other Muslim rites but her husband and father-in-law strongly opposed this and asked her to worship Hindu deities.
'My husband and father-in-law have been pressurising me to change my religion. Last week, they severely assaulted me after I refused to embrace Hinduism,' she said.
'I am ready to die. But I will not change my religion,' Mana added.
She is now in a very difficult situation as her father has also refused to let her stay in his house because she married a Hindu.
'On Monday, both Mana Khatun's father and her husband came to the police station to sort out the dispute. We are trying to resolve the matter peacefully,' said police officer S. Das.
27.7.07
Guruvayur temple allows entry of women wearing churidars
source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200707261756.htm
Guruvayur, July. 26 (PTI): In a radical break from the centuries-old dress code of the Sree Krishna temple here, the shrine's management today decided to allow women wearing churidars to enter it.
Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee Chairman Thottathil Raveendran told reporters the change was made as part of the ongoing process of reforming the temple rules in the wake of the recent controversy sparked by the "purification ceremony" peformed in the shrine after a visit by Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son.
The decision marks a major change in the custom which insisted that only women clad in saris or Kerala's traditional 'mundu' and 'veshti' could enter the shrine.
Men are also not allowed to enter the temple, known for its rigid customs and practices, wearing pants and shirts.
Some women's groups have demanded changes in the outdated dress code followed by the temple, which is visited by thousands from across the country every day.
25.7.07
Case against dera saint
Molestation Charge
Case against dera chief Shankaranand
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
source http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070726/punjab1.htm#20
Talwandi Khurd, July 25
The Mullanpur police has booked Swami Shankaranand, head of a dera by the same name in this village, for allegedly molesting a woman, besides beating her up along with her brother in the dera complex this morning.
The police registered the case against him and some of his followers late in the evening after a day-long tense drama. About 500 persons, including a large number of women, belonging to Mor Karima village laid siege to the Shankaranand dera for nearly seven hours today in protest against the incident.
The accused was booked under sections 323, 341, 354, 427 and 506 of the IPC on a complaint of the woman.
The dera head was granted bail in the evening.
According to Gurmail Singh, sarpanch of Mor Karima village, the woman and her brother had gone to pay obeisance at the dera. Some dera sewaks objected to the manner in which they parked their car. An argument took place at which the sewaks and the dera head allegedly beat them up.
The two were left with swollen eyes and torn clothes. They later called up their relatives in Mor Karima village. The entire village came to their help and staged a dharna.
The situation remained volatile and tense throughout the day. The police was present in large numbers along with the anti-riot squad and a CRPF battalion to control the mob.
The victims claimed their brother had died under mysterious circumstances in the dera three years ago. They had been demanding action against some sewaks.
8.6.07
Tirupati temple for Hindus only, says Andhra ordinance
Indo-Asian News Service
Hyderabad, June 8 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an ordinance prohibiting propagation of any religion except Hinduism at the famed Tirupati temple and also declared the seven hills surrounding the temple as a place of worship.
The ordinance also bans the conduct of local body elections in Tirumala hills surrounding the Lord Venkateshwara temple and imposes prohibition.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy made the announcement at a news conference here Friday.
About 50,000 devotees visit Tirupati, India's richest temple, every day and the number crosses 100,000 on special occasions.
The ordinance, signed by Governor Rameswar Thakur May 22, was issued following criticism by Hindu religious heads over propagation of other religions on the Tirumala hills, over 700 km from here.
The ordinance, which makes it clear that all seven hills form part of the temple, sets at rest controversy over the area. Some people were claiming that the jurisdiction of the temple was confined to two hills.
The ordinance also covered 19 other major Hindu temples in the state and prohibited the propagation of other religions in these places.
Reddy said places of worship of other religions would also be covered if specific requests were received by the government.
He said the move was aimed at ensuring that sentiments of religious groups were not hurt and public order at such places of worship was not disturbed. He said a legislation replacing the ordinance would be introduced in the next assembly session.
The state cabinet had in April decided to promulgate the ordinance after taking strong note of evangelical activity around the famous hill shrine.
Anybody found violating the provisions of the ordinance will be sentenced to three years of imprisonment or imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 or both.
Indo-Asian News Service
6.6.07
Guruvayoor temple says no to change in traditions
http://www.southasianews.com/154632/Guruvayoor-temple-says-no-to-change-in-traditions.htm
Trissur (Kerala), May 31 (IANS) Days after a panel of Hindu priests decided to discuss the sensitive issue of throwing open the doors of Kerala temples to non-Hindus, the supreme authority of the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple Thursday ruled out any change in the traditions of the famed temple.
K. Raman Nampoothiri, secretary of the Guruvayoor Temple Pramabarya Paricharana Samithy, said that they had a long meeting that ended late Wednesday night and decided that at no cost should there be any changes in the tradition of the Sree Krishna Temple.
'We have a feeling that the devotees of this temple are a worried lot that there is going to be a change in the traditions after reports surfaced in the media after a meeting of the Yogakshema Sabha Monday.
'The Sabha Monday decided to appoint a five-member panel to look into this issue in all temples of the state,' Nampoothiri told IANS.
'We also took part in that meeting and we expressed our opinion that at the Guruvayoor temple there cannot be any changes in the traditions and we are committed to that and we wish to convey this to all devotees of this temple,' he said.
The Samithy consists the tantris and those who take part in the rituals and prayers of the temple while the Yogakshema Sabha represents the entire Brahmin community including priests and temple administrators of Kerala.
When asked if he was not in agreement with the Yogakshema Sabha decision to appoint an expert panel, Nampoothiri said that at the Sabha meeting he had expressed the view that there should be no changes in the tradition of the Guruvayoor temple.
'We wish to reiterate that if there is even a small change (in the tradition), it would lead to a series of changes and that is just not acceptable because this is a temple with a long tradition.
'We can speak only for this temple and the Yogakshema Sabha is free to go ahead with their panel to study if any changes are required in other temples,' added Nampoothiri.
The famed Guruvayoor temple of late has run into controversies. Kearla Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran was instrumental in igniting one when he wrote to the temple administrators to see that veteran singer K.J. Yesudas, a Christian, be allowed to sing inside its premises Hindu devotional compositions that he is famous for.
Last week, Guruvayoor priests performed a purification ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson there. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
After the ritual at the temple, a section of Hindus has argued for a change in entry rules to allow non-Hindus into temples.
Trissur (Kerala), May 31 (IANS) Days after a panel of Hindu priests decided to discuss the sensitive issue of throwing open the doors of Kerala temples to non-Hindus, the supreme authority of the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple Thursday ruled out any change in the traditions of the famed temple.
K. Raman Nampoothiri, secretary of the Guruvayoor Temple Pramabarya Paricharana Samithy, said that they had a long meeting that ended late Wednesday night and decided that at no cost should there be any changes in the tradition of the Sree Krishna Temple.
'We have a feeling that the devotees of this temple are a worried lot that there is going to be a change in the traditions after reports surfaced in the media after a meeting of the Yogakshema Sabha Monday.
'The Sabha Monday decided to appoint a five-member panel to look into this issue in all temples of the state,' Nampoothiri told IANS.
'We also took part in that meeting and we expressed our opinion that at the Guruvayoor temple there cannot be any changes in the traditions and we are committed to that and we wish to convey this to all devotees of this temple,' he said.
The Samithy consists the tantris and those who take part in the rituals and prayers of the temple while the Yogakshema Sabha represents the entire Brahmin community including priests and temple administrators of Kerala.
When asked if he was not in agreement with the Yogakshema Sabha decision to appoint an expert panel, Nampoothiri said that at the Sabha meeting he had expressed the view that there should be no changes in the tradition of the Guruvayoor temple.
'We wish to reiterate that if there is even a small change (in the tradition), it would lead to a series of changes and that is just not acceptable because this is a temple with a long tradition.
'We can speak only for this temple and the Yogakshema Sabha is free to go ahead with their panel to study if any changes are required in other temples,' added Nampoothiri.
The famed Guruvayoor temple of late has run into controversies. Kearla Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran was instrumental in igniting one when he wrote to the temple administrators to see that veteran singer K.J. Yesudas, a Christian, be allowed to sing inside its premises Hindu devotional compositions that he is famous for.
Last week, Guruvayoor priests performed a purification ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson there. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
After the ritual at the temple, a section of Hindus has argued for a change in entry rules to allow non-Hindus into temples.
29.5.07
Thousands of Christians, Dalits court arrest in Delhi
New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) At least 3,000 Christians, Dalits and rights activists from across the country courted arrest here Tuesday while protesting against the "silence" of the government on the alleged rise in anti-Christian attacks.
At a rally, "Stop Violence on Christians", held at Jantar Mantar here, Christian and Dalit leaders, including All India Christian Council (AICC) president Joseph Dsouza, National Integration Council member John Dayal, Justice Party president Udit Raj and Mount Carmel School principal V.K. Williams, warned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his silence could lead to killing of innocent people at the hands of communal forces.
"The protest is in the wake of attacks on Pastor Walter Masih in Jaipur, Rajasthan on April 19 and priests Ramesh Gopargode and Ajit Belavi on May 7 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and a high incidence of communal assaults this year thus far," Madhu Chandra, an AICC leader, told IANS.
Chandra said that in 2006, the AICC recorded at least one incident of anti-Christian attack every third day, "but this rose to one attack every alternate day during the first four months of this year".
The participants, who were from several states including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, saying, "UPA government, wake up and stop atrocities on Christians."
Also present at the rally were victims of communal violence, including Masih and two Christians from Himachal Pradesh, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, who were allegedly tonsured and forcibly "reconverted" to Hinduism in Kullu district May 23.
Dayal said Christianity had been reduced to a "daylight religion", because "the people of the community feel unsafe after sunset".
Expressing disappointment with the Congress party that leads the UPA, Dayal added that it was no longer only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that should be blamed for anti-Christian agenda. "Look at the Congress-government in Himachal Pradesh, which enacted the anti-conversion law," he said.
Dalit leader Raj told the Christians not to trust any political party including the Congress saying, "You must have hopes only from yourselves."
Offering Dalits' support to the Christian community, Raj added that they should "learn to identify their friends".
The crowd left the Parliament Street police station, where they courted arrest, at 2.15 p.m. after an official announced that there were not enough jails to keep such a huge number of people.
Christians in Mumbai also staged a rally at Azad Maidan to show solidarity with the protesters here.
read full news here : http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=44634
At a rally, "Stop Violence on Christians", held at Jantar Mantar here, Christian and Dalit leaders, including All India Christian Council (AICC) president Joseph Dsouza, National Integration Council member John Dayal, Justice Party president Udit Raj and Mount Carmel School principal V.K. Williams, warned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his silence could lead to killing of innocent people at the hands of communal forces.
"The protest is in the wake of attacks on Pastor Walter Masih in Jaipur, Rajasthan on April 19 and priests Ramesh Gopargode and Ajit Belavi on May 7 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and a high incidence of communal assaults this year thus far," Madhu Chandra, an AICC leader, told IANS.
Chandra said that in 2006, the AICC recorded at least one incident of anti-Christian attack every third day, "but this rose to one attack every alternate day during the first four months of this year".
The participants, who were from several states including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, saying, "UPA government, wake up and stop atrocities on Christians."
Also present at the rally were victims of communal violence, including Masih and two Christians from Himachal Pradesh, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, who were allegedly tonsured and forcibly "reconverted" to Hinduism in Kullu district May 23.
Dayal said Christianity had been reduced to a "daylight religion", because "the people of the community feel unsafe after sunset".
Expressing disappointment with the Congress party that leads the UPA, Dayal added that it was no longer only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that should be blamed for anti-Christian agenda. "Look at the Congress-government in Himachal Pradesh, which enacted the anti-conversion law," he said.
Dalit leader Raj told the Christians not to trust any political party including the Congress saying, "You must have hopes only from yourselves."
Offering Dalits' support to the Christian community, Raj added that they should "learn to identify their friends".
The crowd left the Parliament Street police station, where they courted arrest, at 2.15 p.m. after an official announced that there were not enough jails to keep such a huge number of people.
Christians in Mumbai also staged a rally at Azad Maidan to show solidarity with the protesters here.
read full news here : http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=44634
28.5.07
RSS calls Sikhism a separate religion in 'great Hindu samaj'
RSS calls Sikhism a separate religion in 'great Hindu samaj'
PTI
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has described the Sikh faith as a separate religion belonging to "one great Hindu samaj".
In a view that may not go well with BJP's ally Akali Dal, the Sangh says it sees a "problem" if minorities assume a 'political' character.
Spelling out its stand on minorities on its website rss.org under a mission header, it says it believes the Hindu Code Bill is applicable to Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists and that it should be applicable to all, including the Christians and the Muslims.
"The RSS believes in the plural structure of society. Therefore, it recognises that there is bound to be a majority-minority syndrome, and hence each group, whether in the majority or minority, will have a distinct identity and distinct character," it says.
But minorities, according to the Sangh, should restrain themselves from overstepping their basic character.
"... the majority-minority distinctions must be restricted to the bases on which the minority character is sought to be claimed. ... the problem arises when a particular minority transgresses the basis of its minority character and assumes a political one." it says.
In its stand on Sikhism, the Sangh has called it a separate religion but its followers part of Hindu samaj.
"We regard the Sikh religion as a separate religion, but we regard the Sikh people as belonging to our samaj. When we say that they are a part of the one great Hindu Samaj, we do not deny the existence of their separate religion and separate beliefs. The Hindu samaj is a commonwealth of many religions," it says.
The samaj, it adds, includes idol worshippers as well as those who oppose idol worship and those who accept the authority of the Vedas as well as those who do not. They are all included in the wider Hindu conceptualisation, the Sangh says.
"Many Sikhs attend RSS Shakhas, but nobody is asked to remove his beard or his pugree (turban). The RSS will never try to obliterate the identity of the Sikhs. That will be against the very grain of the RSS," it says.
PTI
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has described the Sikh faith as a separate religion belonging to "one great Hindu samaj".
In a view that may not go well with BJP's ally Akali Dal, the Sangh says it sees a "problem" if minorities assume a 'political' character.
Spelling out its stand on minorities on its website rss.org under a mission header, it says it believes the Hindu Code Bill is applicable to Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists and that it should be applicable to all, including the Christians and the Muslims.
"The RSS believes in the plural structure of society. Therefore, it recognises that there is bound to be a majority-minority syndrome, and hence each group, whether in the majority or minority, will have a distinct identity and distinct character," it says.
But minorities, according to the Sangh, should restrain themselves from overstepping their basic character.
"... the majority-minority distinctions must be restricted to the bases on which the minority character is sought to be claimed. ... the problem arises when a particular minority transgresses the basis of its minority character and assumes a political one." it says.
In its stand on Sikhism, the Sangh has called it a separate religion but its followers part of Hindu samaj.
"We regard the Sikh religion as a separate religion, but we regard the Sikh people as belonging to our samaj. When we say that they are a part of the one great Hindu Samaj, we do not deny the existence of their separate religion and separate beliefs. The Hindu samaj is a commonwealth of many religions," it says.
The samaj, it adds, includes idol worshippers as well as those who oppose idol worship and those who accept the authority of the Vedas as well as those who do not. They are all included in the wider Hindu conceptualisation, the Sangh says.
"Many Sikhs attend RSS Shakhas, but nobody is asked to remove his beard or his pugree (turban). The RSS will never try to obliterate the identity of the Sikhs. That will be against the very grain of the RSS," it says.
In India, 2,000 Hindus `reborn'
BUDDHISTS WELCOME LOW-CASTE CONVERTS
By Aijaz Ansari
Associated Press
Article Launched: 05/28/2007 02:48:30 AM PDT
MUMBAI, India - About 2,000 low-caste Hindu Indians bowed before orange-robed monks and recited prayers as they converted to Buddhism in a ceremony Sunday that they said would bring them dignity in a society that considers them "untouchables."
"I feel like I have been reborn," Mahi, a farmer who uses only one name, said at the ceremony in Mumbai. "This is my rebirth."
Organizers said the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of B.R. Ambedkar, an untouchable, or dalit, who fought British colonial rule and injustice in Indian society. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution that outlawed discrimination based on caste, renounced Hinduism for Buddhism in 1956 because he believed it treated people equally. He died that same year.
Buddhists form a small minority in mostly Hindu India. read full news here. http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_6004822
By Aijaz Ansari
Associated Press
Article Launched: 05/28/2007 02:48:30 AM PDT
MUMBAI, India - About 2,000 low-caste Hindu Indians bowed before orange-robed monks and recited prayers as they converted to Buddhism in a ceremony Sunday that they said would bring them dignity in a society that considers them "untouchables."
"I feel like I have been reborn," Mahi, a farmer who uses only one name, said at the ceremony in Mumbai. "This is my rebirth."
Organizers said the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of B.R. Ambedkar, an untouchable, or dalit, who fought British colonial rule and injustice in Indian society. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution that outlawed discrimination based on caste, renounced Hinduism for Buddhism in 1956 because he believed it treated people equally. He died that same year.
Buddhists form a small minority in mostly Hindu India. read full news here. http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_6004822
Thousands of Hindus convert to Buddhism to be treated as “human beings”
At least 5,000 people mass convert in Mumbai. They are Dalits and Tribals, members of groups at the bottom of the Hindu caste system, who hope to gain greater social and human dignity.
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of Tribal Hindus and Dalits converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony in Mumbai yesterday in order to escape from the rigid caste system and thus be treated as ‘human beings’.
Shravan Gaikwad, a representative of the Dalit group Samatha Sainik Dal, estimated that about 5,000 people took part in the ceremony, which was held to mark the 50th anniversary of leading Dalit leader Bhimrao Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism.
Delegates from several countries with large Buddhist communities, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan, attended the event.
For many mass conversion appears to be only way to escape the rigid Hindu caste system, which places Dalits and Tribals at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and, as one Dalit activist put it, start being treated “as human beings”.
At least one sixth of India's 1.1 billion people are classed as low caste.
Despite job reservation (affirmative action) for members of Dalit and Tribal communities, their social status and economic conditions have not greatly improved.
Hindu nationalist are opposed to Hindu converting and in several Indian states (especially those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party) laws against conversion have been adopted, in particular if it involves Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam.
Converting to Buddhism does not however elicit much negative reaction, since many in India believe Buddhism to be an extension of Hinduism. By contrast, two weeks ago two Catholic priests were publicly beaten after being accused of proselytising.
source : http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9389&size=A
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of Tribal Hindus and Dalits converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony in Mumbai yesterday in order to escape from the rigid caste system and thus be treated as ‘human beings’.
Shravan Gaikwad, a representative of the Dalit group Samatha Sainik Dal, estimated that about 5,000 people took part in the ceremony, which was held to mark the 50th anniversary of leading Dalit leader Bhimrao Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism.
Delegates from several countries with large Buddhist communities, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan, attended the event.
For many mass conversion appears to be only way to escape the rigid Hindu caste system, which places Dalits and Tribals at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and, as one Dalit activist put it, start being treated “as human beings”.
At least one sixth of India's 1.1 billion people are classed as low caste.
Despite job reservation (affirmative action) for members of Dalit and Tribal communities, their social status and economic conditions have not greatly improved.
Hindu nationalist are opposed to Hindu converting and in several Indian states (especially those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party) laws against conversion have been adopted, in particular if it involves Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam.
Converting to Buddhism does not however elicit much negative reaction, since many in India believe Buddhism to be an extension of Hinduism. By contrast, two weeks ago two Catholic priests were publicly beaten after being accused of proselytising.
source : http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9389&size=A
Talks on reforms to allow non-Hindus into Kerala temples
Trissur (Kerala), May 28: A panel of Hindu priests is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon to discuss whether there is a need to change rules that prevent non-Hindus from entering Kerala temples.
The Yogakshema Sabha, a body of temple priests and those associated with the affairs of the temples in the state, is to discuss whether reforms are needed after a controversy erupted last week at the famous Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor.
Priests in Guruvayoor performed a cleansing ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson at the temple. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
Following the cleansing ceremony, progressive Hindus felt that a change in temple rules is needed so as to make the entry of non-Hindus into temples a smooth affair. However, organizations associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party did not agree.
A source close to the Yogashema Sabha said Monday's discussion would look into all aspects and the body would decide whether any changes are needed to be made in the tradition to keep up with changing times.
--- IANS
read full news here. http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=33453
The Yogakshema Sabha, a body of temple priests and those associated with the affairs of the temples in the state, is to discuss whether reforms are needed after a controversy erupted last week at the famous Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor.
Priests in Guruvayoor performed a cleansing ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson at the temple. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
Following the cleansing ceremony, progressive Hindus felt that a change in temple rules is needed so as to make the entry of non-Hindus into temples a smooth affair. However, organizations associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party did not agree.
A source close to the Yogashema Sabha said Monday's discussion would look into all aspects and the body would decide whether any changes are needed to be made in the tradition to keep up with changing times.
--- IANS
read full news here. http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=33453
Non hindus barred from worshipping in Hindu temple
Non-Hindus Barred from Worshipping in Hindu Temple
Temple priest objects to the entry of a minister's son in Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur
Rajen Nair (rajennair)
Kerala, the famous Hindu shrine of Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur, is embroiled in controversy over barring of non-Hindu worshipers into the temple to offer prayers.
Vayalar Ravi, Pravasi Affairs Minister for India, along with his son had visited the Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur for offering prayers. After their departure the temple head priest carried out the purification ceremony of the temple. The minister, though, is of lower Hindu caste and is legally allowed to offer prayers but it is his son Ravi Krishna who has broken the law of the temple by accompanying him, according to the temple priest.
read full article http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=5&no=363554&rel_no=1
Temple priest objects to the entry of a minister's son in Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur
Rajen Nair (rajennair)
Kerala, the famous Hindu shrine of Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur, is embroiled in controversy over barring of non-Hindu worshipers into the temple to offer prayers.
Vayalar Ravi, Pravasi Affairs Minister for India, along with his son had visited the Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur for offering prayers. After their departure the temple head priest carried out the purification ceremony of the temple. The minister, though, is of lower Hindu caste and is legally allowed to offer prayers but it is his son Ravi Krishna who has broken the law of the temple by accompanying him, according to the temple priest.
read full article http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=5&no=363554&rel_no=1
26.5.07
'Rapist' Trinidad swami has a Nagpur past
By Shyam Pandharipande, Indo Asian News Service
Nagpur, May 25 (IANS) Every saint has a past; every sinner, a future, goes a maxim. Kripalu Maharaj, an 85-year-old Hindu spiritual guru, charged with raping a 22-year old Guyanese woman in south Trinidad Sunday, has a similar case pending against him in the high court here.
Setting up an ashram near this city in central India in 1984, Kripalu Maharaj, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, attracted considerable following in the region. All was hunky dory for the swami until an elderly man filed a complaint against him in 1991 that Maharaj had kidnapped his two major daughters.
Following the complaint, the police came to know of at least two earlier cases of rape in which complaints were not registered, public prosecutor Prashant Sathiyanathan recalls.
The police filed a common first information report (FIR) against the swami putting together all four cases of kidnapping and rape allegedly committed over a period from 1985-91, Sathiyanathan told IANS.
The swami contested the charges, first in the high court and then in the Supreme Court, which asked the police to file a separate FIR for each case in the lower court.
The two major sisters, meanwhile, stated in the court that they stayed and had sex with the swami regularly of their own volition, that he was the incarnation of Lord Krishna and that they were his disciples.
Even as another case of rape on a minor girl was filed against the swami, the two disciple sisters quietly retreated from the ashram and, it was reported subsequently that they were happily married.
The 12-year old girl, whose father had complained of unnatural sex and rape on his daughter, too testified in the court that the swami had sex with her every time her parents took her to him. The court wondered how a minor girl could go to a man again and again if he had sex with her and how come it didn't hurt. The medical reports too went in favour of the swami, who was acquitted of all the charges.
The high court, before which the prosecution has preferred an appeal against the acquittal in 2005, had the swami deposit his passport, restraining him from leaving the country.
Later however, the court allowed the swami's application seeking permission to go abroad citing ill-health. The case awaits final hearing for which the date is yet to be fixed, Sathiyanathan said.
(Shyam Pandharipande can be contacted at shyam.pandharipande@gmail.com)
Indo-Asian News Service
Nagpur, May 25 (IANS) Every saint has a past; every sinner, a future, goes a maxim. Kripalu Maharaj, an 85-year-old Hindu spiritual guru, charged with raping a 22-year old Guyanese woman in south Trinidad Sunday, has a similar case pending against him in the high court here.
Setting up an ashram near this city in central India in 1984, Kripalu Maharaj, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, attracted considerable following in the region. All was hunky dory for the swami until an elderly man filed a complaint against him in 1991 that Maharaj had kidnapped his two major daughters.
Following the complaint, the police came to know of at least two earlier cases of rape in which complaints were not registered, public prosecutor Prashant Sathiyanathan recalls.
The police filed a common first information report (FIR) against the swami putting together all four cases of kidnapping and rape allegedly committed over a period from 1985-91, Sathiyanathan told IANS.
The swami contested the charges, first in the high court and then in the Supreme Court, which asked the police to file a separate FIR for each case in the lower court.
The two major sisters, meanwhile, stated in the court that they stayed and had sex with the swami regularly of their own volition, that he was the incarnation of Lord Krishna and that they were his disciples.
Even as another case of rape on a minor girl was filed against the swami, the two disciple sisters quietly retreated from the ashram and, it was reported subsequently that they were happily married.
The 12-year old girl, whose father had complained of unnatural sex and rape on his daughter, too testified in the court that the swami had sex with her every time her parents took her to him. The court wondered how a minor girl could go to a man again and again if he had sex with her and how come it didn't hurt. The medical reports too went in favour of the swami, who was acquitted of all the charges.
The high court, before which the prosecution has preferred an appeal against the acquittal in 2005, had the swami deposit his passport, restraining him from leaving the country.
Later however, the court allowed the swami's application seeking permission to go abroad citing ill-health. The case awaits final hearing for which the date is yet to be fixed, Sathiyanathan said.
(Shyam Pandharipande can be contacted at shyam.pandharipande@gmail.com)
Indo-Asian News Service
Visiting 85-year-old Indian swami charged with rape in Trinidad
By Paras Ramoutar, Indo-Asian News Service
Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), May 21 (IANS) A senior Hindu missionary from India, whose trips here attract hordes of visitors including government ministers, has been charged with raping a young woman at his centre in south Trinidad.
The 85-year-old swami, who is from a prominent Hindu organisation in India, was charged Sunday evening with raping a 22-year-old woman at his centre in Phillipne, south Trinidad. She had gone to seek spiritual assistance and guidance from the swami when she was raped, according to police officials in the city of San Fernando.
Doctors who examined the woman said she was a virgin.
The swami, whose name is being withheld pending his appearance in a court on Monday, has been visiting this oil-rich republic for several years now. His last visit was in June 2005.
Whenever he comes to Trinidad there is always an avalanche of believers to see him. They think he can cure social, marital and financial problems. His guests have included government ministers, top corporate executives and senior religious leaders.
The incident is likely to cause consternation among the 24 percent of diehard Hindus, as well as among the non-Hindus and Christians who always revere the spiritual luminaries visiting here.
Out of Trindiad and Tobago's one million population, about 40 percent is of Indian origin. These include Christians, Hindus and Muslims.
Legal representatives for the swami are calling for a speedy hearing of the case.
Indo-Asian News Service
Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), May 21 (IANS) A senior Hindu missionary from India, whose trips here attract hordes of visitors including government ministers, has been charged with raping a young woman at his centre in south Trinidad.
The 85-year-old swami, who is from a prominent Hindu organisation in India, was charged Sunday evening with raping a 22-year-old woman at his centre in Phillipne, south Trinidad. She had gone to seek spiritual assistance and guidance from the swami when she was raped, according to police officials in the city of San Fernando.
Doctors who examined the woman said she was a virgin.
The swami, whose name is being withheld pending his appearance in a court on Monday, has been visiting this oil-rich republic for several years now. His last visit was in June 2005.
Whenever he comes to Trinidad there is always an avalanche of believers to see him. They think he can cure social, marital and financial problems. His guests have included government ministers, top corporate executives and senior religious leaders.
The incident is likely to cause consternation among the 24 percent of diehard Hindus, as well as among the non-Hindus and Christians who always revere the spiritual luminaries visiting here.
Out of Trindiad and Tobago's one million population, about 40 percent is of Indian origin. These include Christians, Hindus and Muslims.
Legal representatives for the swami are calling for a speedy hearing of the case.
Indo-Asian News Service
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