As a Hindu, saffron, for me, is NOT the BJP. The BJP does not hold COPYRIGHT to Hinduism. The colour saffron has a very special significance for Hindus. But how do you react when someone makes a mockery of the core of your religious beliefs? Being a religious person, how do you respond to the mockery of your deities?
Do you cringe at the thought of someone defaming your deities — or do you simply shrug it off?
As a practising Hindu — and a deeply religious one at that — I am not okay with anyone mocking my religious beliefs. I am not okay with anyone vilifying my gods for the sake of a few ha-has. And I am not okay with anyone mocking my Gods and Goddesses to serve their political agenda.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Enough is Enough; the political parties and the so-called political leaders must stop using the names of Hindu Gods and Goddess to suit their purpose or justify their move of jumping parties.
The statement by former Thivim MLA and Goa Forward Working President Kiran Kandolkar on Devi Shantdurga was uncalled for.
Going overboard while making a statement before his people at Thivim Kandolkar suggested that Goa’s Devi Shantadurga is calm and weak, and Goa needs an aggressive Devi Durga (goddess) from Bengal to take on the BJP.
He was obviously referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party Trinamool Congress is looking to make forays in Goa for the forthcoming polls.
It is rumoured that the Goa Forward Party will either tie up or merge with the TMC in Goa ahead of polls.
Kandolkar somehow wanted to convince his voters that the party would tie up with TMC and was trying to justify the same by calling Mamta Devi Durga.
As a Hindu, saffron, for me, is NOT the BJP. The BJP does not hold COPYRIGHT to Hinduism. The colour saffron has a very special significance for Hindus. But how do you react when someone makes a mockery of the core of your religious beliefs? Being a religious person, how do you respond to the mockery of your deities?
Do you cringe at the thought of someone defaming your deities — or do you simply shrug it off?
As a practising Hindu — and a deeply religious one at that — I am not okay with anyone mocking my religious beliefs. I am not okay with anyone vilifying my gods for the sake of a few ha-has. And I am not okay with anyone mocking my Gods and Goddesses to serve their political agenda.
This form of vigorous religious desecration not only mocks Hinduism but also hits a new low among those who propagate religious hatred under the pretence of ‘freedom of expression’ and “appeasement politics”.
In this case, Kandolkar has crossed his limits by calling Mamata Durga Devi and thus trying to suggest that Goa’s Devi Shantadurga is less powerful than her.
Frankly speaking, I am also against some Hindus suggesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the avatar of Lord Krishna. For me, he is just another political leader and in no way can be compared to God.
Mr Kandolkar, you can idolise any political leader you like and jump as many parties you want; we have no objection to it as the politicians of your genre are known to be jumping jacks. You were earlier part of BJP wherein you always criticised Vijai Sardesai, and then to suit your purpose, you readily accepted Sardesai as your boss, and now you want Mamata to be your new boss.
The people have Goa have no objection to it; the voters will decide whether to vote for the jumping jacks or not. But, please do not use the names of our deities in your dirty third-grade politics. You are nobody to do so.
It is also shocking that the Goa Forward Vice-president Durgadas Kamat has supported Kandolkar while Vijai Sardesai is mum on the issue.
Sardesai must ask his colleague to withdraw the statement or tell the voters whether he supports what has been reported. After that, it would be for the voters to decide what needs to be done.