'Temples path to mental slavery, schools path of light': Bihar Edu Minister Chandrashekhar
Rohtas, Jan 8: Bihar Education Minister Chandrashekhar reiterated that temples are the path to "mental slavery" while schools mean the path of light in life, extending support to party MLA Fateh Bahadur Singh whose similar statement drew the ire of a fringe outfit that announced a "reward" of Rs 10 lakh to cut off his tongue.
Addressing a function in Rohtas district to mark the birth anniversary of social reformer Savitri Bai Phule on Sunday, Chandrashekhar, an RJD leader, criticised the Ram temple in Ayodhya, calling it "a site of exploitation to fill pockets".
"The site that has been allotted for the Ram temple is simply the site of exploitation. It is a place to fill the pockets of some conspirators from a certain community. We should be aware of pseudo Hindutva and pseudo nationalism. Lord Ram lives in each one of us and everywhere, there is no need to go anywhere or in any temple to find Lord Ram," he said at the function organised by Singh.
Temples are the path to mental slavery, while schools mean the path of light in life, Chandrashekhar added.
"Where will you go if you get injured? Temple or hospital? If you want education and want to become an officer, MLA or MP, will you go to a temple or a school? Fateh Bahadur Singh said the same thing that Savitr Bai Phule had said," he asserted.
Chandrashekhar said that "conspirators" against Singh's statement announced a price for his tongue.
Referring to Mahabharata, he said, "Now, this Eklavya's son will not give up his thumb. Now, people know how to make offerings. Conspirators should remember that the 'Bahujan' people will sweat so much that it will become an ocean and the opponents will be seen standing across the seven seas..(after the 2024 polls)".
Senior state BJP leader Nikhil Anand told PTI that with such statements RJD leaders were trying to please their Muslim voters.
"RJD is ready to go to any level to abuse Hindus and appease Muslims. Ayodhya and Mathura are the questions related to India's spiritual-cultural heritage and religious self-respect," he alleged.
"RJD leaders such as Chandrashekhar and Fateh Bahadur should ask their party supremo Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav why they recently went to Tirupati with their family and got tonsured. They should also tell us which religious rituals they follow at home," he said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
