Plea on Gita injurious to secularism, says Narayanasamy

Puducherry, Dec 11: Condemning External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's suggestion that Bhagwad Gita be made a national scripture, former Union Minister V Narayanasamy today claimed such a move would be "injurious to secularism" and it "exposed the BJP government's plan to push Hindutva policy".

Such a move would be "injurious to secularism" to which the country was committed, he told reporters here. "Her proposal exposed the plan of the BJP government at the Centre to promote Hindutva policy and hence the plea of Sushma Swaraj deserved to be condemned in strongest terms", he said.

The Congress leader also urged the central and state governments to take immediate steps to secure the release of fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, arrested by the Sri Lankan navy recently, along with their boats. Criticising the failure of Chief Minister N Rangasamy to attend the recent meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the restructuring of the Planning Commission, he said Rangasamy had meted out "injustice" to the people of Puducherry.

PTI