Gita ban case work of ‘misdirected individuals’, says India (Lead)
December 20th, 2011 - 3:12 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) Describing a legal move to ban the Bhagvad Gita in Russia as the work of “misdirected and motivated individuals”, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday said India has taken up the issue at the highest levels with the Russian government and hoped for a resolution.
A day after a belligerent opposition raised a furore in parliament over an IANS report about an ongoing court case in Tomsk, Siberia, on banning the Gita on grounds that it is extremist literature, Krishna said India was closely monitoring the case and has been consistently in touch with the Russian authorities.
“The officials of India in Moscow and our ambassador on Moscow have been in regular touch with representatives of the Iskcon. We have also taken up the matter at highest levels with the Russian government,” Krishna told the Lok Sabha.
“The embassy of India is closely monitoring the legal case,” Krishna said. He said the case was filed by some “misdirected elements with an absurd complaint”.
He said he hoped the matter would be resolved keeping in mind civilisational values of India.
In a last-ditch effort to save Bhagvad Gita from a ban, Hindus in Russia appealed to the Siberian court to seek the views of the nation’s human rights commission on the religious text and preachings, before pronouncing its verdict.
Following their last-minute plea, represented by their advocate Mikhail Fralov, the court in Tomsk city in Siberia has given the human rights panel 24 hours to come with its deposition. The court has deferred its verdict to Dec 28.
Underlining that the Gita was “above any cheap propaganda or attacks by motivated individuals”, Krishna said the Gita “described the very soul of the Indian civilisation.”
Krishna’s statement led BJP leader Sushma Swaraj to demand that the government declare the Bhagvad Gita a “national book”.
Krishna also stressed that the issue was taken with Russian ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin and quoted from the envoy’s statement that described the Gita as “the great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world”.
- Russian envoy denounces 'madmen' seeking ban on Gita - Dec 20, 2011
- India has taken up Gita 'ban' row with Russia: Krishna (Second Lead) - Dec 20, 2011
- Gita row snowballs, India raises issue at 'highest levels' (Evening Lead) - Dec 20, 2011
- India taking serious note of Gita case in Russia - Dec 20, 2011
- Gita row sparks storm, India flags issue at 'highest level' (Roundup) - Dec 20, 2011
- Hindus make last bid to save Bhagavad Gita from ban in Russia - Dec 19, 2011
- ISKCON monks protest outside Russian consulate - Dec 19, 2011
- Russian court dismisses plea to ban Gita (Second Lead) - Mar 21, 2012
- 'Ban Gita' plea dismissed in Russia (Roundup) - Dec 28, 2011
- Krishna meets Russian envoy over Gita row - Dec 27, 2011
- 'Bhagvad Gita' faces 'extremist' branding, legal ban in Russia - Dec 17, 2011
- Russian court dismisses case seeking Gita ban - Mar 21, 2012
- Russia should help resolve Gita issue: India (Lead) - Dec 27, 2011
- Russian court dismisses plea to ban Gita (Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- 'Ban Gita' plea dismissed in Russia (Intro Roundup) - Dec 29, 2011
Tags: bhagvad gita, case work, embassy of india, external affairs minister, extremist literature, human rights commission, indian civilisation, iskcon, krishna, last ditch effort, legal case, legal move, Lok Sabha, preachings, religious text, russian ambassador, russian authorities, russian government, swaraj, tomsk siberia