Sanatana Dharma: Satheesan accuses CM Vijayan of attempting to favour Sangh Parivar
Sivagiri (Kerala) (PTI): Congress leader V D Satheesan on Wednesday criticised the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's statement on Sanatana Dharma, alleging that it was an attempt to make Sanatana Dharma exclusive to the Sangh Parivar.
"Sanatana Dharma is a cultural heritage. It encompasses Advaita, Tat Tvam Asi, the Vedas, the Upanishads, and their essence. Claiming that all of this belongs to the Sangh Parivar is misleading," Satheesan told reporters after addressing a programme organised as part of the Sivagiri pilgrimage here.
Addressing the Sivagiri pilgrimage conference on Tuesday, Vijayan had cautioned against "organised efforts" to portray sage and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, who advocated "one caste, one religion, and one God for people," as a proponent of Sanatana Dharma.
He stated that Sanatana Dharma is nothing but varnashrama dharma (a caste-based social order), which Guru had challenged and overcome.
Reacting to Vijayan's statement, Satheesan said it was akin to saying that everyone who goes to a temple, applies sandalwood paste, or wears saffron is part of the RSS.
"Handing over Sanatana Dharma and its legacy to the Sangh Parivar is incorrect. What the Chief Minister said is wrong," the Leader of the Opposition said.
He noted that, like in all religions, priesthood, monarchies, and ruling systems in Hinduism had also been misused.
"We do not support the varna-ashrama or chaturvarnya system. Even Sree Narayana Guru has explained the essence of Sanatana Dharma in detail. It is not right to dismiss Sanatana Dharma entirely or claim that it exclusively belongs to the Sangh Parivar," Satheesan said.
He argued that Sanatana Dharma has no communal outlook and that it has been misinterpreted and misrepresented by the Chief Minister.
"His portrayal is inaccurate. In the past, people used to talk about 'saffronisation,' which was also misunderstood and misused. Driving all Hindus into the RSS fold through such narratives is not the right approach. This is not what should be done," he said.
Meanwhile, KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, while addressing another function at the Sivagiri pilgrimage, echoed the words of Vijayan and alleged that there had been an attempt not only to hijack Guru's ideals but Guru himself.
"Isn't there an effort to confine the universal visionary Sree Narayana Guru--who proclaimed 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'--within the frameworks of chaturvarnya and varna-ashrama under the guise of Sanatana Dharma? Let us firmly declare that Gurudevan cannot be surrendered to anyone in such a manner," he said.
The Chief Minister's remarks had drawn sharp reactions from the BJP, which alleged that Vijayan had insulted Sanatana Dharma in the holy land of Sivagiri. The BJP also claimed that the Chief Minister had insulted the followers of Sree Narayana Guru through his remarks.
"The crux of Vijayan's speech at the Sivagiri conference was that Sanatana Dharma should be hated. His remarks were a continuation of Udayanidhi Stalin's statement that Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated," senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast
"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
