Union Minister: Janivara Represents Broader Religious Beliefs Beyond Brahmins
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Synopsis
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasized that the Janivara, a sacred thread, is part of a broader religious belief system and condemned recent incidents where students were forced to remove it. He called for serious government action and criticized the state's response to such incidents.
Key Takeaways
- Janivara is not exclusively worn by Brahmins but is integral to religious beliefs.
- Government intervention is necessary to protect religious practices.
- Criticism of Congress's handling of caste census and Rohith Vemula Act.
- Respect for all religious beliefs is essential in educational settings.
- Accountability for actions against students wearing Janivara is crucial.
Hubballi, (Karnataka) April 19 (NationPress) Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi stated on Saturday that ‘Janivara’ (sacred thread) is not solely associated with the Brahmins, but forms a significant part of the religious belief system.
“It’s not just Brahmins who wear the Janivara. It is an integral part of religious belief. The recent incident represents an attack on this belief. The government should take this matter seriously and provide clear and specific guidelines,” asserted the Union Minister while denouncing the event where students were reportedly compelled to remove their Janivara prior to taking the CET exam at centers in Bidar and Shivamogga.
He urged the state government that merely suspending the home guard involved in the incident and distancing itself from the situation is inadequate.
He accused the administration, under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of consistently attempting to divert attention whenever controversies like the caste census or administrative shortcomings arise.
In response to the proposed implementation of the ‘Rohith Vemula Act’, the minister commented: “It’s not unusual for the Congress to create controversies and then try to shift public focus. Who did they consult for the so-called caste census? Not a single household has been surveyed. When objections arose, they hastily altered their position, asserting it was an economic survey rather than a caste census.”
He further stated that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress members lack genuine concern for the nation, claiming they do not possess a sincere or transparent stance on national integrity or the welfare of citizens.
“Their interests lie solely in vote-bank politics. Rahul Gandhi is not engaged in politics for the benefit of the country. His attention is completely on 24/7 vote-bank politics. Even the letter penned by Siddaramaiah requesting the enforcement of the ‘Rohith Vemula Act’ in the state is part of that strategy,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, JD-S Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy deemed the incident as ‘incorrect’.
“We must cultivate respect for the beliefs of every caste and religion. Preventing a student from taking an exam simply due to them wearing the Janivara is unacceptable. I vehemently condemn this occurrence. The government must guarantee that such incidents do not recur,” he conveyed to reporters in Bengaluru.
“Can someone utilize the Janivara to cheat? Can a student conceal a note in the Janivara? If someone is wearing a smart watch, requesting its removal is justifiable. However, compelling someone to remove a Janivara and disrespecting an entire community is intolerable,” he added.
Nikhil emphasized that strict measures should be taken against those accountable, advocating for counseling and preventive steps to avert similar incidents in the future.
