Thiruvananthapuram: Popular political commentator and columnist Sreejith Panickar expressed shock on the cyber attacks on famous singer KS Chitra. He expressed more shock to the post of singer G Venugopal where he appeals to people to forgive KS Chitra atleast once, for her post. Sreejith asks what wrong has Chitra committed to be forgiven. He expressed his views through a video on Facebook posted on January 16.
Sreejith Panickar said…
“I am shocked to read the statements of few people who have extended support to KS Chitra. Among those, the most shocking one that has gained attention is the post of prominent singer G Venugopal. Though he has justified KS Chitra in one part of his post, he also asks people to forgive her for this time at least, in another part. On what circumstances should she be forgiven, I’m not sure. According to law and order and judgments in our country where the Supreme Court has given its final verdict on the lawful construction of a temple, how is that a religious statement or a statement to practice religious belief become an issue for which apology is required. If KS Chitra is been forgiven this time alone, does that mean she will not be forgiven if she does the same mistake again?
This is an immature comment made by G Venugopal. KS Chitra has done nothing wrong here, so there is no question of seeking apology or forgiveness. Even if this statement of KS Chitra is said again and again, it will not hurt the sentiments of anyone. What she said is within the limits of her rights.
Our constitution allows fundamental rights to all the citizens of our nation. Among that Article 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion to all citizens. It means while we are not supposed to insult other religions, we have the freedom to practice and propagate our own religion.
In a recent video of singer KS Chitra, she has appealed to all devotees to chant prayers of Lord Rama during the ‘Pran Prathishtha’ ceremony at Ayodhya on January 22 and light lamps in their homes in the evening. This call of hers is her right to religious belief. She also has the right to propagate her religious beliefs. There is no insult to any religion, no hindrance to the fundamental right of any person, nothing against law and order situation of our nation and has nothing to affect public decency or morality in this statement of hers.
But because of this video of hers, KS Chitra is being extensively attacked on social media. This is the usual template; it is like how actor Jayasurya was criticized for voicing about Kerala farmers and paddy conservation, like how actress Shobhana was criticized for attending a function where PM Modi was participating. This is the same treatment. KS Chitra is still being attacked and insulted on social media for requesting believers to offer prayers on the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya. It is her fundamental right, so what wrong has she done, nothing. Our constitution gives us freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and KS Chitra only within these limits has called for practicing these beliefs through her statements. Her appeal to support the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony became controversial. This is about the Ram Temple and its land in Ayodhya of which Supreme Court had given its final verdict. The final verdict of the Supreme Court was in favour of allowing the 2.77 acres of disputed land for the temple construction.
According to the order of Supreme Court, a trust that formed is responsible for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. So the arguments that KS Chitra cannot practice her freedom of religion or her belief on something that is happening with the approval of Supreme Court cannot be accepted. Those insulting KS Chitra has no knowledge of law and order in our country, no consideration for the judiciary in our country and no respect for the verdict of the Supreme Court. They are not aware about what is freedom of religion or freedom of belief; neither do they know about communal harmony or religious tolerance. Such people should just be ignored and their insulting comments should just be discarded. But what shocked me were the comments of few selective people.
So my appeal to all people is that, if you have a backbone, stand strong to fight for your freedom of rights. You should also respect the fundamental rights of your fellow citizen but not sacrifice your freedom of fundamental rights to please another’s whims.”
In her video that has gained much attention on social media KS Chitra had said, “My salutations to all. When the ‘Pran Prathishtha’ ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22, everybody should chant the Ram mantra ‘Sri Rama, Jayarama, Jaya Jaya Rama’ at 12.20 pm. Likewise in the evening, five-wick lamps should be lit in the house, praying that God’s blessings may be showered upon everyone. Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu.”
Following this, Left-Islamists launched a massive cyber attack on singer KS Chitra, who only requested that all devotees chant hymns and light lamps in their homes during the ‘Prana Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Writers who call themselves as left cultural heroes were also among the attackers.
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