11-26-2006, 08:20 PM
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<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->There should be reasonable limits to the pursuit of liberty. Secularism does NOT mean denial of aadhyaatmika or aagama traditions. Secularism means pantha-nirapekshataa, neutrality as to pantha. A Constitution which enshrines Fundamental Duties is a respec for Sanatana Dharma which is the greatest secular tradition. In fact, the Hindi version of the Constitution whose preamble was amended during Indira Gandhi regime translates secularism as 'pantha-nirapekshataa'.
Sentiments of crores of Hindu should be respected. There are sacred, pilgrimage sites which should not be subjected to sacrilege by naastika or insults to the Hindu who practice sanatana dharma, esha dhammo sanantano.
There should be a demand to declare Srirangam as a sacred, pilgrimage city and there should be no sale of maamsam or alcoholic drinks around the entire temple premises. The pavitrataa of the site should be celebrated.
It is notable that even AP government has declared Tirumala as a sacred city and out of bounds for proselytizers. Govt. of Haryana has declared Kurukshetra as a sacred city and banned the sale of maamsam in that city.
The planned move to instal the EVR statue in front of the Rajagopuram should be given up. Why was the particular site chosen? Why not in front of a church or mosque?
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EVR statue installed amidst protests
Wednesday November 22 2006 10:57 IST
TRICHY: Amidst strong protests by various Hindu organisations, a life-size statue of EVR Periyar was installed in front of the 'Rajagopuram' of Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, Srirangam, on Tuesday.
According to sources, the decision to install the statue was taken years ago and a resolution to that effect was adopted by the Srirangam Municipal Council during the chairmanship of Y Venkateswara Dikshitar in 1973.
Based on the resolution, the government had issued an order (G O No 162 dated 24.01.1973) allocating a piece of land measuring 144 sq ft (S F No 720/1A2) near the Srirangam police station for the purpose. A notice was also issued to the secretary of 'Suyamariyadhai Kazhagam' on February 25, 1975.
Subsequently, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) general secretary K Veeramani laid the foundation stone on December 4, 1996. But, the installation of the statue was getting delayed due to the stiff opposition by the Hindu fronts. The move to dig up the ground in May 2006 and lay the basement for the statue were also abandoned due to the opposition.
However, work on the installation began on Saturday last after the district office-bearers of the DK held discussions with Veeramani.
Against this backdrop, the DK activists installed the statue on the masonry construction on Tuesday. However, the pedestal and platform are yet to be constructed.
According to DK office-bearers, the work is yet to be completed. However, they expressed confidence that it would be completed before December 24, the death anniversary of EVR, and the statue would be unveiled by Veeramani.
The installation, as expected, has triggered displeasure among the devout.
According to BJP State working committee member S Ramakrishnan, DK activists had offended the sentiments of the Hindu believers by the installation the statue of EVR, who was an atheist, in front of the world- renowened Srirangam Rajagopuram.
''Srirangam is one of the 108 Vaisnavite kshetrams where urchavams are taking place throughout the year. By installing the statue of EVR, who had described believers as ''fools'', DK activists have hurt the sentiments of Hindu believers,'' Ramakrishnan told this website's newspaper.
Ramakrishnan, however, clarified that Hindus were not opposed to the installation of the statue of EVR elsewhere.
http://tinyurl.com/yb4oma
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<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->There should be reasonable limits to the pursuit of liberty. Secularism does NOT mean denial of aadhyaatmika or aagama traditions. Secularism means pantha-nirapekshataa, neutrality as to pantha. A Constitution which enshrines Fundamental Duties is a respec for Sanatana Dharma which is the greatest secular tradition. In fact, the Hindi version of the Constitution whose preamble was amended during Indira Gandhi regime translates secularism as 'pantha-nirapekshataa'.
Sentiments of crores of Hindu should be respected. There are sacred, pilgrimage sites which should not be subjected to sacrilege by naastika or insults to the Hindu who practice sanatana dharma, esha dhammo sanantano.
There should be a demand to declare Srirangam as a sacred, pilgrimage city and there should be no sale of maamsam or alcoholic drinks around the entire temple premises. The pavitrataa of the site should be celebrated.
It is notable that even AP government has declared Tirumala as a sacred city and out of bounds for proselytizers. Govt. of Haryana has declared Kurukshetra as a sacred city and banned the sale of maamsam in that city.
The planned move to instal the EVR statue in front of the Rajagopuram should be given up. Why was the particular site chosen? Why not in front of a church or mosque?
---
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
EVR statue installed amidst protests
Wednesday November 22 2006 10:57 IST
TRICHY: Amidst strong protests by various Hindu organisations, a life-size statue of EVR Periyar was installed in front of the 'Rajagopuram' of Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, Srirangam, on Tuesday.
According to sources, the decision to install the statue was taken years ago and a resolution to that effect was adopted by the Srirangam Municipal Council during the chairmanship of Y Venkateswara Dikshitar in 1973.
Based on the resolution, the government had issued an order (G O No 162 dated 24.01.1973) allocating a piece of land measuring 144 sq ft (S F No 720/1A2) near the Srirangam police station for the purpose. A notice was also issued to the secretary of 'Suyamariyadhai Kazhagam' on February 25, 1975.
Subsequently, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) general secretary K Veeramani laid the foundation stone on December 4, 1996. But, the installation of the statue was getting delayed due to the stiff opposition by the Hindu fronts. The move to dig up the ground in May 2006 and lay the basement for the statue were also abandoned due to the opposition.
However, work on the installation began on Saturday last after the district office-bearers of the DK held discussions with Veeramani.
Against this backdrop, the DK activists installed the statue on the masonry construction on Tuesday. However, the pedestal and platform are yet to be constructed.
According to DK office-bearers, the work is yet to be completed. However, they expressed confidence that it would be completed before December 24, the death anniversary of EVR, and the statue would be unveiled by Veeramani.
The installation, as expected, has triggered displeasure among the devout.
According to BJP State working committee member S Ramakrishnan, DK activists had offended the sentiments of the Hindu believers by the installation the statue of EVR, who was an atheist, in front of the world- renowened Srirangam Rajagopuram.
''Srirangam is one of the 108 Vaisnavite kshetrams where urchavams are taking place throughout the year. By installing the statue of EVR, who had described believers as ''fools'', DK activists have hurt the sentiments of Hindu believers,'' Ramakrishnan told this website's newspaper.
Ramakrishnan, however, clarified that Hindus were not opposed to the installation of the statue of EVR elsewhere.
http://tinyurl.com/yb4oma
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