V
V.Balasubramani
Guest
Seers demand law against superstitious practices
Over 150 heads of religious institutions from across the State — backed by rationalist groups, Dalit organisations and intellectuals — launched a three-day fast on Monday, demanding the promulgation of a law against superstitious practices.
Speaking at the launch of the stir, Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swami of Nidumamidi Math in Bagepalli, said it was a “satwik” agitation for a “social justice cause” and not restricted to any religious faith or belief system.
Shivarudra Swami of Beli Math said that superstitious practices that exploited gullible people were only “the outer shell of religion without any core substance”.
Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swami of Sanehalli Math said that “influential” religious institutions should not get immunity from the law because of their proximity to political power.
The other demands of the seers included banning discriminatory practices such as made snana, pankti bheda and the custom in Kadu Golla community of keeping menstruating women and young mothers out of their homes.
Activists of the Karnataka Jnana Vijnana Samiti, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Samatavada) and pourakarmika unions gathered at Freedom Park to express their support. Eminent persons who lent their support included K. Marulasiddappa, K.Allama Prabhu Bettadur, C.S. Dwarakanath and N. Prabha.
Source: Karnataka - The Hindu
Over 150 heads of religious institutions from across the State — backed by rationalist groups, Dalit organisations and intellectuals — launched a three-day fast on Monday, demanding the promulgation of a law against superstitious practices.
Speaking at the launch of the stir, Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swami of Nidumamidi Math in Bagepalli, said it was a “satwik” agitation for a “social justice cause” and not restricted to any religious faith or belief system.
Shivarudra Swami of Beli Math said that superstitious practices that exploited gullible people were only “the outer shell of religion without any core substance”.
Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swami of Sanehalli Math said that “influential” religious institutions should not get immunity from the law because of their proximity to political power.
The other demands of the seers included banning discriminatory practices such as made snana, pankti bheda and the custom in Kadu Golla community of keeping menstruating women and young mothers out of their homes.
Activists of the Karnataka Jnana Vijnana Samiti, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Samatavada) and pourakarmika unions gathered at Freedom Park to express their support. Eminent persons who lent their support included K. Marulasiddappa, K.Allama Prabhu Bettadur, C.S. Dwarakanath and N. Prabha.
Source: Karnataka - The Hindu
