Opposition targets Modi for not
greeting nation on Eid
Updated: Aug 5, 2014 05:24 PM , By
Smriti Kak Ramachandran
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifts
sandalwood to the Pashupatinath
temple in Kathmandhu, Nepal on
Monday. PTI
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha,
TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay alluded
to Modi’s temple visit in Nepal and
said he should also greet the
followers of other religions.
The Opposition on Tuesday targeted
Prime Minister Narendra Modi for
not extending greetings to the
nation on the occasion of Eid, even
as he has been visiting temples
across the country and more
recently, the Pashupatinath Temple
in Nepal on Monday.
Speaking during Zero Hour, TMC’s
Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who began
with a reference to communal
tensions in the country and asked
the government to remain alert and
cautious, alluded to Mr. Modi’s
temple visit in Nepal and said that
while he appreciates his religious
sentiments, he should communicate
greetings to the followers of other
religions as well. “A new government
has come into power; Government of
India, I think, should remain alert,
cautious and vigilant to prevent
communal tensions; otherwise, safety
and security of the common people
of the country and the secular fabric
of this vast country will be under
threat. The Government should rise
to the occasion and assure the
House,” he said.
He said the Prime Minister visited
Pashupatinath temple and offered
puja with 2400 kg ghee. “…We
appreciate it, but the PM should
have greeted the nation on Eid also.
It was equally expected that the
Prime Minister should communicate
Eid Mubarak to others also.… as
these are the common sentiments,
ethos and feelings of the country. All
castes and creeds, all sections of the
people should be greeted with
happy Vijayadashmi at the time of
Vijayadashmi and Eid Mubarak at
the time of Eid. Why is there such a
difference?” he said.
Mr. Bandyopadhyaya’s observations
drew a sharp reaction from the
Treasury benches and the BJP MPs
objected to the comments. The
Congress, however, wanted to raise
the issue as well, but Speaker
Sumitra Mahajan asked Adhir Ranjan
to associate with the TMC.
At this, the Congress began
protesting and trooped into the well
of the House to raise slogan for not
being allowed to speak despite
having given notices. The House was
then adjourned for 15 minutes.
Later, Mr. Chowdhury again raised
the issue and said the Congress has
no objection to Mr. Modi visiting
temples, but after Independence,
most Prime Ministers, especially Atal
Behari Vajpayee, had followed a
tradition of hosting an Iftar party
during Ramzan. He wanted to know
why this practice was discontinued.
This comment also drew a criticism
from the BJP and the Speaker said
personal matters cannot be raised in
the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.
Venkaiah Naidu made a statement in
the House, denying that the
government has not treated other
religions on par. “This Government
believes in ‘Sarva Dharma
Sambhava’. The Prime Minister
visited Pashupatinath Temple. He
has also given his greetings to the
whole Muslim community across the
country. It has been widely
published,” he said.
http://thehindu.com/news/national/o...-nation-on-eid/article6284043.ece/?secid=2780
Sickular TMC at it again ! Hindu leader visitng a temple is communal 
