Bhagvad Gita faces legal ban in Russia

[pmaitra]

"Krishna Consciousness" materialized in the Tomsk region

"Krishna Consciousness" materialized in the Tomsk region​

Kommersant (Novosibirsk), â„– 8 (4063), 20/01/2009

ROC needs to prevent the construction of the village Krishna

Interfaith scandal erupted in the Tomsk region. Tomsk diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has opposed the construction of society, "Krishna Consciousness" settlement near the village of Kandinka, requiring the authorities to "take a stand" and "not be liberal." Tomsk diocese Krishnas suspected of inciting religious hatred and hope for protection from prosecution.

On non-construction settlement near the village of Krishna Kandinka under Tomsk last Friday at a news conference, said the archbishop Rostislav of Tomsk and Asino. "If in this matter we do not occupy a firm position, then we get a huge center of this sect, who let their roots here ... Nowhere anything like this in Russia yet. Where they tried to settle down, get rebuffed citizens ", - said the archbishop.


Earlier in the meeting with residents Kandinki went head of the Missionary Department of the Tomsk diocese Maxim Stepanenko. "The scale of this illegal building (6 m supposed to build about 50 houses. - "b" ) and the small number of Tomsk Krishna community suggest that actually built the Krishna religious settlement of regional significance, that is, there will be room to flock followers of totalitarian sects and destructive with the whole of Siberia ", - he suggested.To date, the Hare Krishnas built a two-story home on shlakoblochnye pile on, the two square log structure on the pillar foundations and wood frame construction.


Late last year, the initiative group of citizens Kaltayskogo rural community appealed to the governor Victor Kress and oblprokuroru Basil Voykinu asking to stop the construction. As head of the settlement told Galyamov Idris, a decision about the construction of the settlement will be made at the public hearing draft. "I do not see it appropriate to post this here town. But not for religious reasons. We do not have kindergartens and schools, infrastructure is not developed. Let the governor is making a new settlement with budgetary financing. I have another settlement can not "- he said. Meanwhile, the management of Rosselkhoznadzor for the Tomsk region has already admitted that these facilities were built in violation of Art. 42 of the Land Code, and ordered the community to address these violations until June 1, 2009.


President of the Society of Tomsk "Krishna Consciousness" said Enver Izmailov ROC hierarchs of the contravention of the law. "The land was bought in the property is legally ... We have started construction before the issue was resolved, as local authorities did not object. And then came the settlement of Orthodox missionaries and started campaigning against us and our religion "- he said" b ". According to him, the actions of the Tomsk diocese could be interpreted as incitement to religious hatred: "In December we asked the Prosecutor's Office to investigate the situation, but have not yet received an answer."


"The conflict was triggered by ... Maxim Stepanenko, - considers, in turn, head of contemporary art, education, and national policies of the regional department of culture, Andrei Makarov. - He went to Kandinku, met with residents collected signatures. Construction of the village is the summer of 2008, and before the Orthodox activists opponents of construction in the settlement was not. "

Ekaterina Litvinova, Tomsk​

​

Original article:

«Сознание Кришны» материализуется в Томской области РПЦ требует не допустить строительства поселка кришнаитов

Межконфессиональный скандал разгорелся в Томской области. Томская епархия Русской православной церкви (РПЦ) выступила против строительства обществом «Сознание Кришны» поселка близ деревни Кандинка, потребовав от властей «занять твердую позицию» и «не проявлять либеральности». Томские кришнаиты подозревают епархию в разжигании межрелигиозной розни и надеются на защиту со стороны прокуратуры.

О недопустимости строительства кришнаитского поселения у деревни Кандинка под Томском в минувшую пятницу на пресс-конференции заявил архиепископ Томский и Асиновский Ростислав. «Если в этом вопросе мы не займем твердой позиции, то получим огромный центр этой секты, которая пустит здесь свои корни... Нигде ничего подобного в России пока нет. Там, где они пытались обосноваться, получали отпор граждан», — заявил архиепископ.


Ранее на встречи с жителями Кандинки выезжал руководитель миссионерского отдела Томской епархии Максим Степаненко. «Масштабность этой противозаконной застройки (на 6 га предполагается возвести около 50 домов. — "žÐª") и малочисленность томской общины кришнаитов позволяют предполагать, что фактически строится кришнаитское религиозное поселение регионального значения, то есть туда на проживание будут стекаться адепты этой тоталитарной и деструктивной секты со всей Сибири», — предположил он. К настоящему времени кришнаиты построили шлакоблочные двухэтажные дома на свайной основе, два брусовых строения на столбовых фундаментах и деревянное каркасное сооружение.


Ð’ конце прошлого года инициативная группа жителей Калтайского сельского поселения обратилась к губернатору Виктору Крессу и облпрокурору Василию Войкину с просьбой остановить строительство. Как рассказал глава поселения Идрис Галямов, решение о возможности возведения поселка будет принято в ходе публичных слушаний проекта. «Я не вижу целесообразным размещать этот поселок здесь. Но не по религиозным мотивам. У нас нет детских садов и школ, не развита инфраструктура. Пусть губернатор образует новый населенный пункт с бюджетным финансированием. Я содержать еще один поселок не смогу», — заявил он. Тем временем управление Россельхознадзора по Томской области уже признало, что эти объекты возведены с нарушением ст. 42 Земельного кодекса РФ, и предписало обществу устранить эти нарушения до 1 июня 2009 года.


Президент томского общества «Сознание Кришны» Энвер Измайлов считает действия иерархов РПЦ противоречащими закону. «Земля была выкуплена в собственность на законных основаниях... Мы начали стройку до того, как этот вопрос был решен, так как местные власти не возражали. А потом в поселение приехали православные миссионеры и началась агитация против нас и нашей религии», — рассказал он "žÐª". По его словам, действия представителей Томской епархии можно расценить как разжигание межрелигиозной розни: «В декабре мы обратились в прокуратуру с просьбой разобраться в ситуации, но ответа пока не получили».


«Конфликт был спровоцирован... Максимом Степаненко, — считает, в свою очередь, начальник отдела современного искусства, образования и национальной политики областного департамента по культуре Андрей Макаров. — Он выезжал в Кандинку, встречался с жителями, собирал подписи. Строительство поселка ведется с лета 2008 года, и до появления православных активистов противников строительства в поселении не было».

Екатерина Литвинова, Томск​

​

Source: Ъ-Новосибирск - «Сознание Кришны» материализуется в Томской области

 

[Zebra]

Lok Sabha storm as Russian court decides whether to ban Bhagavad Gita

NDTV Correspondent/Agencies, Updated: December 19, 2011 13:03 IST

Moscow: The Lok Sabha was adjourned this morning over protests against the demand for a ban on the Bhagavad Gita in a Russian court.

In a Siberian court, state prosecutors have petitioned that the Gita, distributed locally by ISKCON members, is "extremist" literature. The court in Siberia's Tomsk city is scheduled to deliver its verdict today.

The final pronouncement in the case comes just two days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in Moscow for a bilateral summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has in recent years been noted for bulking up its membership in Eastern Europe. The organization has more than 400 centres across the world.


Earlier today, Congress MP Milind Deora tweeted, "Absurd to suggest the Bhagwad Gita is even remotely pro-violence! Hope Russian Courts appreciate its intrinsic appeal in a pluralistic India."

The case, which has been going on in Tomsk court since June this year, seeks to get a Russian translation of Bhagvad Gita As It Is written by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), on the Hindu religious text banned in Russia and declaring it as a literature spreading "social discord", apart from rendering its distribution on Russian soil illegal.

In view of the case, Indians settled in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the ISKCON religious movement here have appealed to Manmohan Singh and his government to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issue in favour of the Hindu religious text, an important part of Indian epic Mahabharat written by Sage Ved Vyasa.

The ISKCON followers of Russia have also written a letter to the Indian Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi seeking immediate intervention, lest the religious freedom of Hindus living here be compromised.

"The case is coming up for a final verdict on Monday in Tomsk court. We want all efforts from Indian government to protect the religious right of Hindus in Russia," Sadhu Priya Das of ISKCON and a devotee of a 40-year-old Krishna temple in central Moscow, told IANS.

The court, which took up the case filed by the state prosecutors, had referred the book to the Tomsk State University for "an expert" examination Oct 25 this year.

But Hindu groups in Russia, particular followers of the ISKCON, say the university was not qualified, as it lacked Indologists.

The Hindus had pleaded with the court that the case was inspired by religious bias and intolerance from a majority religious group in Russia, and have sought that their rights to practice their religious beliefs be upheld.

The prosecutor's case also seeks to ban the preaching of Prabhupada and ISKCON's religious beliefs, claiming these were "extremist" in nature and preached "hatred" of other religious beliefs.

"They have not just tried to get the Bhagvad Gita banned, but also brand our religious beliefs and preachings as extremist," Das said.

In fact, the ISKCON devotees have taken up the matter with the Indian embassy in Moscow too, apart from writing to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, for an early diplomatic intervention, before things get worse and the court passes an adverse verdict banning the 'Bhagvad Gita' and Krishna consciousness teachings.

In the Nov 1 letter, addressed to Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji, ISKCON's New Delhi branch Governing Body Commissioner Gopal Krishna Goswami, said the prosecutor's affidavit claims Lord Krishna "is evil and not conforming to Christian religious view".

Goswami also urged Singh to accord priority to the matter during his Moscow stay and to take it up with the Russian authorities.

Indian diplomatic corps officials at the embassy here, who were unwilling to be named, told IANS that they have been following up the case since the time it was brought to their notice earlier this year and that they had also taken up the matter at the appropriate levels in the Russian government to get the case either withdrawn or get the defence to fight the case to obtain a favourable verdict.

Officials at the Indian Prime Minister's office, who are part of the Indian delegation accompanying Singh, confirmed the case and the letter they received from ISKCON in this regard to IANS.

"This matter is receiving the highest attention and the Indian embassy officials in Moscow have been instructed to follow up the case with the Russian authorities," they said.

Lok Sabha storm as Russian court decides whether to ban Bhagavad Gita

 

[Singh]

Hey Guys, one of y friend is a Sanskrit Pandit. He told me that how a sentence in Sanskrit can have two different interpretations. One meaning says that the "Sun is in the middle and the earth rotates around it" and the other meaning of the same line is " A cow is tied to a stick at the center and the cow rotates around the stick". So, from this I understood that before translating anything which is Sanskrit we should first have the correct meaning and then we have to translate and then check it twice or thrice before making a release of it.

I remember reading a statement in a famous sanskrit text that says one should pray to a particular diety under a large animals shadow.

Now, anyone reading it would interpret as praying under a large animal when the sun is in the sky.

However when I read the interpretation, the text as per the interpreter actually meant to denote a time when the constellation, named after that large animal dear to that particular diety is visible in the night.

=

Like some muslims who claim that the words of prophet Muhammad were the words spoken by God ergo no interpretation is required, some Hindus also believe that the words uttered by Krishna were the words spoken by God ergo no interpretation is required. It is what it is.

 

[Singh]

LurkerBaba,
I think there are various 'disciple successions'(parampara). Advaita, Dvaita, Vishishta Advaita, Sikh, Shaiva, Smarta, Vaishnava, Shakteya...so on and so forth. Depending on the parampara, the interpretation changes.

Sikhism is not a "parampara". It is a distinct and unique religion.
There is no "Sikh" interpretation of Gita.

 

[lemontree]

1) Jehovah's Witness websites
2)Russian translation of a key book for Hare Krishna devotees – the Bhagavad-Gita
3)Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi,

They all are facing "extremism" charges .

What is so offensive about the Bhagvad Gita?

 

[lemontree]

this shows the hypocricy of christians around the world.

Wait a minute - this ban is being demanded in Russia. So what the F do the christians of the world have to do with it.

in all international forum they shout lectures of secularism and now russia which is a christian dominated country is banning bhagvad gita.unlike quran and bible which are essentially religious books the bhagvad gita is a philosophical book,anyone following any faith can read it.even management trainees in institutes across the world,corporate sector employes have been reading it and found it useful in building an ethical buiseness model.i think india should stop all imports from russia and consider banning bible in india if hindus continue to face humiliation and persecution around the world.

I hope you can see the absurdity of the Russian court's demands, which is prosecuting this case. It is just as absurd as what some members on this forum, call christian missionaries.....

 

[Zebra]

What is so offensive about the Bhagvad Gita?

Russian Federal Security Tries to Ban Bhagavad-gita As It Is

News & reports , By: Madhava Smullen

Will the third Russian edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is be labeled "extremist literature"?

Devotees in Tomsk, Siberia, are currently in court fighting an attempt by the Russian government's Federal Security Service (FSB) to prove that Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is is an extremist literature that should be banned.

It all began in May 2010, when an officer of the Tomsk FSB division approached Sergey S. Avanesov , the dean of the philosophy department at Tomsk University, and asked him for his "expert assessment" of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

Interestingly, Avanesov also teaches at the Russian Orthodox Church's Tomsk Seminary. And in 2009, when the new patriarch was elected, he was one of the four representatives of the Tomsk diocese at the Church's Council.

"It's clear that the attempt to ban Bhagavad-gita is an effort to establish the religious monopoly of the Russian Orthodox Church," comments Vackresvari Dzyubenko, a concerned Russian devotee living in Mayapur, India.

From May until October 2010, Avanesov and two other professors at Tomsk University worked on their assessment of the Bhagavad-gita.

Then in June 2011 a public prosecutor named Viktor Fedotov—once again on the request of the FSB—sent an application to the Leninskiy district court in Tomsk, asking to declare the third Russian edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is an extremist literature.

During the hearings that followed, it became clear that the prosecutors had no objective proof for their case.

"Fedotov failed to answer the simple question, 'Who will become inimical, and towards whom, after reading Bhagavad-gita As It Is?'" says Akincana Vitta Dasa of the North European BBT, publishers of the Gita. "And when two Orthodox Christian scholars were interviewed in court, even they answered explicitly that there were no extremist ideas in Bhagavad-gita As It Is."

After three hearings, on August 12th, August 18th, and August 29th to 30th of this year, the court found Avanesov's team unqualified and the results of their examinations inconclusive.

"However, the FSB—who had a representative present at all the hearings—as well as the anti-cultists from the Russian Orthodox Church are trying to attain their goal by all means," says Akincana Vitta. "So the court has now called for three other "experts" from the University of Kemerovo, another Siberian city, to make their own psychological, religious, and linguistic assessment of the Gita."

It's not encouraging that this group previously deemed other religious groups' spiritual literatures to be extremist, including the Jehovah's Witnesses', and succeeded in getting them banned.

In response, ISKCON's legal team, including ISKCON Tomsk's lawyer Alexander Shahov, and ISKCON Russia's head lawyer Maha-Balarama Dasa, suggested that the assessment be carried out by more qualified professors in Moscow or Ekaterinburg. Their request, however, was denied

The University of Kemerovo professors will have three months to carry out their assessment, and the next hearing will take place in Tomsk in early December.

Meanwhile, ISKCON's defense has contacted independent experts who will also present their own assessment.

If ISKCON loses the case, devotees will be forbidden to publish, distribute and keep the third Russian edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. On the positive side, the BBT would be free to simply publish a new Russian edition of the book that would not be subject to the court-ordered prohibition. However, ISKCON devotees and all other followers of Hinduism would still be labeled "extremists," which is a serious concern.

"Recently a court in Russia declared the Jehovah's Witnesses' literatures to be extremist, on the recommendation of the same Kemerovo University professors that are currently assessing the Bhagavad-gita," Akincana explains. "And as a result, police are now raiding the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses all over the country, and criminally prosecuting them when they find the 'offending' literatures. In a town called Taganrog, the Jehovah's Witnesses' local religious organization has been officially banned, and their temple building confiscated by the State."

While such prosecution of devotees by the government is a very real concern should the Bhagavad-gita be declared extremist literature, the court case has elicited the support of the media and of local and international politicians.

News articles with headings along the lines of "Court Case Over Indian Holy Book Has Dishonored Tomsk to the Whole World" abound, even on Tomsk's official news site. Various democratic freedom fighters have written in favor of ISKCON and the Bhagavad-gita, including Former World Chess Champion and current political activist Garry Kasparov.

At the recent Janmastami celebrations at ISKCON Moscow, Mr. Ajai Malhotra, the new Indian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, called the Bhagavad-gita "Perhaps the most important scripture that you can find in the world," and said that through Lord Krishna's message to Arjuna it teaches us selfless service to God and humanity.

He added, "The translation by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is, I believe, one of the best that you can find, because he gives you the words, the meanings, and the options to understand it as it was written—not through any intermediaries."

This statement was met with rapturous applause from the devotees, as well as from the Nepali and Mauritian ambassadors, who attend the Moscow Janmastami every year.

Public support of ISKCON is also at an all-time high as a result of the court case.

"People are disgusted with the Orthodox Church attacking all other religious groups," Akincana says. "They say that having a court case against a book is crazy and shameful and brings us back to the Middle Ages—especially since the case is against a book that is accepted as a holy scripture by hundreds of millions."

He adds: "Another interesting twist is that all this commotion around the Bhagavad-gita As It Is has been a great advertisement for it! Many people who were not interested in it before, are going out and buying it because they are intrigued and want to see what all the fuss is about."

Still, the future of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and those who follow its teachings in Russia is now uncertain.

"We request everyone to please sincerely pray to Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Sri Sri Pancha-tattva and Lord Nrisimhadeva," says Vackresvari Dasi, "To protect Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita and the Russian Vaishnava Community."

Russian Federal Security Tries to Ban Bhagavad-gita As It Is | ISKCON Times: Journal of the Hare Krishna Movement

 

[lemontree]

Dwarka,

Religious jealousy is the root of most evil floating around. I'm sure the case will fall flat on its face.
The Russian Orthodox church is quite crazy I'm told.

 

[Singh]

Dwarka,

Religious jealousy is the root of most evil floating around. I'm sure the case will fall flat on its face.
The Russian Orthodox church is quite crazy I'm told.

just ask Tolstoy.

 

[mayfair]

Once again, it is their country, their rules. Of course we may protest the labelling of Bhagwad Gita as hate literature, but if we live in their country, we go by their rules.

Of course, we've never uttered a peep when the Gulf states have denied any freedom of religion to large numbers of non-Muslim Indians working there, so our parliamentarians jumping up and down over it did come as a surprise. Of course, it may have to do with the fact that Gulf states were always like that to begin with, while Russia has just come up with this new law.

 

[pmaitra]

Once again, it is their country, their rules. Of course we may protest the labelling of Bhagwad Gita as hate literature, but if we live in their country, we go by their rules.

Of course, we've never uttered a peep when the Gulf states have denied any freedom of religion to large numbers of non-Muslim Indians working there, so our parliamentarians jumping up and down over it did come as a surprise. Of course, it may have to do with the fact that Gulf states were always like that to begin with, while Russia has just come up with this new law.

Not all Gulf States. In Iraq (under Saddam Hussein), Hindus had complete freedom of religion. They also have that freedom in UAE. However, I get your point. It is true we are protesting now since it is happening in Russia. Why are we so silent about KSA which has had draconian laws to begin with?

 

[parijataka]

Once again, it is their country, their rules. Of course we may protest the labelling of Bhagwad Gita as hate literature, but if we live in their country, we go by their rules.

Of course, we've never uttered a peep when the Gulf states have denied any freedom of religion to large numbers of non-Muslim Indians working there, so our parliamentarians jumping up and down over it did come as a surprise. Of course, it may have to do with the fact that Gulf states were always like that to begin with, while Russia has just come up with this new law.

Two important reasons - a) Gulf countries sell us oil that is very essential and b) As yet Christians do not form a vote bank in India. Especially for the likes of Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav . Some politicians sense alienation from their Hindu vote base and are making a noise about this issue.

 

[pmaitra]

Bhagavad Gita ban: India takes up issue with Russia

Bhagavad Gita ban: India takes up issue with Russia

Last updated on: December 20, 2011 09:08 IST

India has strongly taken up the demand for banning Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, which a group linked to the Christian Orthodox Church has described as 'extremist', with the Russian authorities, Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra said.

"The matter has been taken up by the Indian embassy in Moscow with the Russian government at senior official level, seeking its favourable and positive intervention in the matter," Malhotra said, as the court in Tomsk postponed its ruling on the petition banning Bhagwad Gita as 'extremist' and allegedly 'sowing' social-discord in Russia.Describing Bhagwat Gita as extremist, a group linked to the Christian Orthodox Church has demanded ban due to conflict of interests between the Russian followers of Lord Krishna and the local authorities in the Siberian region of Tomsk.

Image: A member of the global Hare Krishna sect plays a trumpet during a protest outside the Russian consulate in Kolkata on December 19

Malhotra personally and his mission in Moscow have been publicly expressed their support to the local chapter of International Society of Krishna Consciousness.

The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court is scheduled for December 28, as the court agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian ombudsman on human rights in Tomsk Region and of Indologists from Moscow and St Petersburg (all of whom favour dismissal of the case).

The case pertains to the legal relationship between a Russian registered socio-cultural organization and the local authorities. Nevertheless, the embassy in Moscow has been publicly supportive and sympathetic in the matter.


Image: The final hearing in the case is scheduled for December 28

Malhotra has maintained regular, close contact with top ISKCON representatives in Moscow, besides attending the Janamashtami celebrations at the ISKCON temple on August 21, and visiting the ISKCON temple with Minister of Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay on September 24.

Speaking in his capacity as the chief guest at last Janamashtami -- the birthday of Lord Krishna -- Malhotra called the Gita "perhaps the most important scripture that you can find in the world which through Lord Krishna's message to Arjuna teaches us selfless service to God and humanity.

"The translation by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is, I believe, one of the best that you can find, because he gives you the words, the meanings, and the options to understand it as it was written -- not through any intermediaries," he had said and allowed the defendants to produce his public remarks in their submission to the Tomsk Court.


Image: ISKCON followers in Russia

ISKCON, Moscow, was also informally suggested by the Indian mission to hire the best legal representation in Tomsk, co-opt established Russian Indologists to provide affidavits or evidence during the Court's proceedings.

Meanwhile, ISKCON has shelved its plans to set up a community near a village in Tomsk region, which is believed to be the root cause of friction between the local Orthodox Christians and followers of Lord Krishna, Tomsk.ru city news portal reported.


Image: A Hare Krishna devotee watches the Ratha Yatra Chariot Carnival
Photographs: Reuters

​

Source: Bhagavad Gita ban: India takes up issue with Russia - Rediff.com News

 

[pmaitra]

Gita ban: Russian court suspends verdict till 28 Dec

Gita ban: Russian court suspends verdict till 28 Dec

19 December 2011
Press Trust of India

MOSCOW, 19 DEC: A Russian court today suspended its verdict till 28 December on a demand for banning Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, which a group linked to the Christian Orthodox Church has described as "extremist".

"The ruling has been postponed till 28 December, as the lawyer of the local chapter of Iskon requested the court to seek opinion of Russian ombudsman and experts from Moscow and St. Petersburg ~ the main centres of Indology in Russia," Sadhu Priya Das of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskon) told PTI after the court in the Siberian city of Tomsk suspended its verdict.

Earlier, Russian ombudsman Mr Vladimir Lukin, in his statement, had declared that "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" written by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of Iskon was a globally respected book, and it was unacceptable to seek a ban on it in Russia.

Meanwhile, at their emergency meeting last night here, Hindus from India, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal and other countries residing in Russia set up the Hindu Council of Russia to defend their interests. Das has been elected its chairman. "We have trust in the Russian judiciary and finally the truth will prevail," Das said. Ironically, Tomsk is the home to the Imperial Energy, the Siberian subsidiary of India's ONGC Videsh Ltd, which has invested millions of dollars in the region.

Comments (0)​

Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=393903&catid=36

 

[Galaxy]

Pulok sat on Bhagvad Gita issue for six whole weeks

Pulok sat on Bhagvad Gita issue for six whole weeks

Wonder what Obama or the King of Saudi Arabia would do in a visit if an Indian court had cooked the goose for banning their holy book

ROHIT BANSAL | NEW DELHI | DECEMBER 19 2011

Pulok Chatterjee is principal secretary to PM

My story doesn't start with the pandemonium in parliament over the Bhagwad Gita, but seven weeks before that.

In the third week of October, I received a call from my friend in Russia Bhakti Vigyana Goswami. Goswami who heads Iskcon in Russia is known to me since my days in India TV, when Moscow civic authorities raised his Krishna temple to the ground citing some strange arguments. To its credit, my then organization played the footage of that video to chilling effect and it was hard to remain unmoved after watching it. SMS poured in the thousands. Hema Malini lent her voice in support. And our ratings went up.

But those weren't the days of the social media and the issue got buried after a few days though not before prime minister Manmohan Singh on a visit to Russia at that time reportedly made a mention of this to Vladimir Putin.

Truth being stranger than fiction, I found myself listening in horror to Goswami's narrative after so much water had flown in the Yamuna and the Moskva. That this time not just a Krishna Temple, but the source of his entire philosophy, the Bhagwad Gita, is facing a ban in a kangaroo court. Since there was no television channel to back us, nor even video footage which channels demand before affording a minute's coverage, we decided to do what my law firm and advocacy firms know best. We followed the rule book and invoked prime minister Manmohan Singh.

To ensure this didn't get lost in a mountain of paper, we made a petition to the PM's highly-regarded principal secretary Pulok Chatterji and had it signed by Gopal Krishna Goswami, a top functionary of Isckon. The letter, which is attached (see below), explained the issue in brief and also provided detailed annexes of the injustice being done to the sacred text. To make things even simpler for Chatterji, who we realized was really busy, an expansive translation of the court proceedings (attached) was provided too. The entire docket running into a few dozen pages was delivered at PMO ,as also to the principal secretary's email ID. With a touch of paranoia, the docket was also hand delivered at Chatterji's home address, including by a comical error to the residence occupied by TKA Nair, the previous incumbent now advisor to PM.

A similar protocol was endeavoured for four key people on cc., ie, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. It was hoped that diligent follow up will ensure that at least one of these people will understand that doing business with Russia will be difficult once India's social media stream discovers how a state prosecutor is leading the charge against the Bhagwatgita.

But until a newswire got hold of the story while accompanying the PM on his trip to Russia, not one of these notable batted an eyelid. The only one who claimed he'll do something was Ajai Malhotra, India's envoy to Moscow. One of his boys, with one eye on the Prime Minister's trip to Russia, summoned Goswami and mentioned that they have advice from 10 Janpath (not PMO, by the way) to do something.``But don't do anything while we mull over what to do!'' the interlocutor told Goswami.

So, we waited and waited in hope, while Anand Sharma made yet another pilgrimage to Moscow in November and the top brass in the prime minister's establishment got busy chasing sexier stuff like warships and fighter aircraft.

I realize Sharma's predicament or Pulok's or even Dr Singh's. I realize a book isn't worth the weight of deals and contracts. But isn't it Krishna who told us to look beyond material things"¦here's what he meant.

I wonder what Obama or the King of Saudi Arabia would do in a visit if an Indian court, by no means an agent of the state like its Russian counterparts are, had cooked the goose for banning their holy book. Do you?

GovernanceNow.com | Pulok sat on Bhagvad Gita issue for six whole weeks

PETITION

 

[Galaxy]

^^^ As per petition and news, Government of India, MMS & Congress ignored it earlier.

 

[Galaxy]

[h=1]Bhagavad Gita given to prison inmates[/h]

The Hindu : Cities / Coimbatore : Bhagavad Gita given to prison inmates

​

 

[Galaxy]

Angry MPs say won't tolerate insult to Lord Krishna

Bhagawad Gita verdict on 28 Dec; Govt statement today

 

[Zebra]

Dwarka,

Religious jealousy is the root of most evil floating around. I'm sure the case will fall flat on its face.
The Russian Orthodox church is quite crazy I'm told.

Nowadays Russians are crazy , but when ISKCON entered in Russia they were mad at that time .

Devotees got jailed for distributing ISKCON books on the streets of Moscow . They were not allowed to give a

book to anybody , not even a free book .

 

[civfanatic]

Sorry, but that picture of Russian ISKCON followers parading made me LOL.