MK likens rationalism and spiritualism as twins

Vellore, Feb 17 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, known for his atheist ideology, likened rationalism and spiritualism as twins and said both should work towards the common goal of serving the people.

Speaking after distributing financial assistance to 320 poor children for their heart surgery under the 'Arogya scheme' of the Sri Narayani Peedam at the Golden Temple at Sripuram near here last evening, he said rationalism, based on knowledge and science, and spiritualism should not be like conjoined twins.

''They should not confront each other. They are like twins and should work towards the common goal of helping the poor,'' he observed.

The DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam in Chennai and the Narayani Peedam, which had set up the Golden Temple here, shared a common ideology of serving the humanity, Mr Karunanidhi said, justifying his visit to the temple.

''While the Arivalayam stood for knowledge, the Golden Temple here, symbolised spiritualism,'' he said, and added ''My visit here does not mean that I have accepted God. But I accept the end result.'' ''Being one among the 300 to 400 crore people in the world, my acceptance of God or whether God has accepted my work does not matter. If we do things according to our conscience, that is godly.

What matters is not whether a person is a theist or an atheist, but only whether he does good things or not,'' he said amid thunderous applause.

Mr Karunanidhi said truth and sincerity within oneself symbolised God and all should realise it. ''For this one need not go to the temple'' he said on his atheist stand.

Describing his relations with 'Sakthi Amma', head of the Peedam, as born out of shared love for poor, the Chief Minister said this young saint was showering love and affection on the needy people.

''When poor people are suffering due to various diseases and died without any facilities for diagnosing them, people, out of ignorance used to blame the God,'' he said, adding ''but now science has developed and with spiritual organisations extending support and financial assistance, several lives can be saved.'' Sri Sakthi Amma said the Chief Minister, other Ministers, MPs and MLAs might differ in their chosen ideologies or the language they spoke, but they were all one in showering love for fellow human beings.

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