We reproduce the responses we have received from activists from various parts of the country in response to our blog on attack on Kalanathan, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations
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This is terrible and I condemn the rowdies whoever involved in such horrible action. I am asking all humanists and rationalists in Europe and USA to express solidarity with Mr Kalanathan and the movement.
Prof Innaiah Narisetti
USA
USA
July 4, 2011
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We agree with the declaration of Shri U Kalanathan that the wealth discovered from the Sree Padamanabahswamy temple should be used for the welfare of the public. Same as in the case of the black money in the Swiss Banks of Indians, this money should be declared as the wealth of the people of India. We condemn the attack on the house of U Kalanthan and demand the Kerala government to arrest the miscreants. Along with handing out judicial punishment to the miscreants, Kalanathan should be compensated. The Tarksheel Society, Punjab warns the government that if such miscreants snatch the democratic rights of the people (right speech) then it shall create unrest in the country .The rationalists have the same rights as the theists under Indian Constitution. Hence snatching the human rights of its citizen is a serious crime. The Society condemns all this and shows sympathy for Mr Kalanathan.
Prof. Balwinder Barnala
Chief Organizer (President)
Tarksheel (Rationalist) Society, Punjab
Tarksheel (Rationalist) Society, Punjab
Vice President – FIRA
July 4, 2011
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The attack on Mr Kalanahan's house is to be seen against the background of growing intolerance of those elements which cannot stomach even the slightest deviation from their mode of thinking. After all what is wrong with his suggestion? Do these elements want that the huge wealth should continue to lie unused in the temple precincts? From any angle this ides is most nonsensical and anti social. The wealth found in the temple belongs to the people. Whoever had hidden it there had not generated or created it by himself or herself. In a democratic society people ultimately are the owners of the land's wealth. Mr Kalanathan's idea has to be given the widest publicity possible and public opinion should be created in its favour so that the wealth does not remain idle in the most unproductive fashion.
Ramesh Nagaragere
Peoples' Democratic Forum
Bangalore
July 4, 2011
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It is very bad news.
Harchand Bhinder
Tarkasheel Society
Punjab
July 4, 2011
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It is an unfortunate incident. Only those who are having a narrow mind and hatred towards openness can do such heinous job. Let us hope that Kerala government will take astringent actions against the culprits. My full sympathy and solidarity with Mr.Kalanathan.
Venkata Subbarao
Convener
Federation of Karnataka Rationalist Associations
Convener
Federation of Karnataka Rationalist Associations
Bangalore
July 4, 2011
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Please convey to our friends in India that we strongly support Mr Kananathan and his colleagues in india and the cause for humanism and freedom that he defends.
Prof. Paul Kurtz
Chairman
Prometheus Books,
Institute for Science and Human Values,
State University of New York at Buffalo
(Message forwarded by Prof Inniah Narisetti)
July 4, 2011
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I strongly condemn the attack on the house of U Kalanathan by communal elements for making a suggestion that the treasure found under a temple in Thiruanatpuram be used for social welfare work. It is a known fact that any treasure found in the earth belongs to the whole nation. Likewise, any undiscovered treasure found in hidden godowns whether under a temple or elsewhere should belong to the nation to be used for social welfare. Merely because there stands a temple above it and the temple happens to be managed by some religious body it does not naturally follow that the governing body has a claim over it. The treasure belongs to the people of the country as a whole and not to any person or body.
By attacking the house of Mr. Kalanathan overenthusiastic religious hooligans have only betrayed their contempt for people of other religions and those who do not believe in any religious sect. Such deeds of intolerance of others' views need to be condemned by one and all because every one has the right to express his/her own views. Those who do not agree with such persons also have a right to express their disagreement but not through acts of hooliganism.
I demand an inquiry into the incident so that the guilty may be brought to book.
By attacking the house of Mr. Kalanathan overenthusiastic religious hooligans have only betrayed their contempt for people of other religions and those who do not believe in any religious sect. Such deeds of intolerance of others' views need to be condemned by one and all because every one has the right to express his/her own views. Those who do not agree with such persons also have a right to express their disagreement but not through acts of hooliganism.
I demand an inquiry into the incident so that the guilty may be brought to book.
Mahi Pal Singh
National Secretary, PUCL
President, Indian Radical Humanist Association, Delhi State
July 4, 2011
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On behalf of Odisha Rationalist Association, I would like to express our deepest solidarity with the expression of Mr Kalanathan. In fact, I was in a similar situation when I suggested that the unaccounted for bars of silver recovered from Emar Muth under very unsavoury circumstances be taken over by the state and spend on the persons with disability who sit in front of the temple to beg and make a living. My personal sympathies and we condemn the acts of all these elements who try to brow beat rationality. Our number may be small but in potency and commitment, we would beat them any time. My salute to the soldier of conscience.
Dr P.K.Rath
Vice President
Odisha Rationalist Association
July 4, 2011
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This attack on Sri U Kalanathan smacks of cowardliness of those who are eager to appropriate people’s wealth to themselves. All those right thinking people should strongly condemn the attackers and urge the Govt. to book the culprits.
T Surendra Rao
Samudaya, Bangalore
July 5, 2011
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The residence of Sri U.Kalanathan a senior rationalist, President of Kerala Yuktivadi Sangham and the Patron of the Federation Indian Rationalist associations has been attacked by some miscreants when he was participating in panel discussion on the utilisation of the wealth found at the Anantha Padmanabha temple at Tiruvananthapuram on a leading TV channel of Kerala. The Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations strongly condemns this attack and reiterates its stand that all the wealth belonging to the places of worship which ever religion or sect they may belong to is the property of the people and must be utilised for the welfare of the people itself.
Prof Narendra Nayak (mailto:narenyen@gmail.com
President
Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations
101, Noel Park, Microwave Station Road
Mangalore - 575006
July 5, 2011
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On behalf of Rationalists’ Forum Of Tamilnadu State, India, we condemn this barbaric attack and attitude .The Kerala Government should take immediate action against the miscreants. Police protection should be given to his house and family. Thanthai Periyar told “Human progress is obstructed only by the activities carried on, in the name of religion. “ Yes, Progress of India will be obstructed by this type of barbaric, intolerant attitude. Rationalists’ Forum Patron Dr K .Veeramani has issued a statement to the newspaper that the wealth obtained from the Sree Padmanabaswamy temple and Sree Saibaba should be used for the welfare of the public. Yes, in one voice we have to demand this. We express our solidarity to Mr.U.Kalanathan who has been working for rationalism and humanism since 1970s.
Dr .V.Nehru, The President , Rationalists’ Forum,Tamilnadu
V.Kumaresan, The General Secretary, Rationalists’ Forum , Tamilnadu.
July 5, 2011
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Mr. Kalanadhan is one of the most dedicated rationalists in India today.He never hides his feelings on whatever he thinks wrong/right.In the issue of the hidden wealth of Padma Nabha Swamy temple in Kerala,what he said in media is not only his own opinion but all the rationalists' in the country.The miscreants who attacked on his house are anti -social elements.They are not thinking about the welfare of the society .They desire to see the country with poor people and rich gods forever.Not only Tirupathi, Puttaparthi,and Thiruanthapuram,there are so many temples in India dumped with gold, jewellary and other precious wealth.Really,it belongs to people.Our organisation, MANAVA VIKASA VEDIKA supports Kalanathan in this regard and severely condemns the foolish attack on his house. We demand the Kerala government to take serious action against the miscreants and to think about the opinion expressed by Kalanathan.
Sambasiva Rao,
President
Manava Vikasa Vedika
July 5, 20111
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The attack on Kalanathan's house is an attack on on all right thinking people. Such attacks should be condemned by all. The authorities need to take stern action against the miscreants. A message should go that such cowardly attacks will not deter the the protagonists with going ahead with their task of educating the people of rational thinking.
I thank Bangalore Skeptic for bringing this incident for the notice of like minded people where as the print media and TV media are as usual silent.
S.Ramesh
Bangalore
Bangalore
July 5, 2011
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Rationalist Society Haryana condemns this barbaric attack.We demand that the Govt should stong action against the miscreants.we will stand by you through thick and thin. Misscreants should be aware that Kalanathan's views are supported by millions of indin peoples
Gurmeet Singh Gen Secy.
Rationalist Society Haryana (Regd)
Rationalist Society Haryana (Regd)
July 7, 2011
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1 comments:
Rationalist Society Haryana (Regd)condemn this barbaric attack.We demand to the Govt. a stong action to be taken against miscreants.we will be stand by you thick and thin. Misscreants should be aware that Kalanathan 's views are supported by millions of indin peoples GURMEET SINGH
Gen Secy.
RAtionalist Society Haryana (Regd)
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