Congress MP from Kerala, T.N. Prathapan says “Ram of Hindu Dharma will not be pleased to see building a temple after demolishing a Masjid in his name.” The AICC member and national chairman of All India Fishermen Congress, Mr. Prathapan has also written a letter to the party chief Sonia Gandhi conveying his “concerns” over Ram Mandir issue.
In the letter T.N. Prathapan criticizes Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh for “begging” for invitation to the “Sangh Parivar sponsored” event. Although Prathapan has taken a soft position towards Priyanka Gandhi saying: Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadraji has taken a position which is acceptable, I think, in a way as she is wishing unity in the name of temple. We certainly know that such unity wouldn’t be there as far as Sangh Parivar has power. Still, by considering the ground realities of the politics in North India especially in Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Priyankaji has kept the concern and dignity in her statement.
Prathapan raises the necessity of an alternative to fight communalism. He points: “We can’t chase an extreme religious nationalism with its soft prototype. We need to realise this situation and should accept an alternative, immediately. That should be upon the legacy of politics of unity, harmony and tolerance. Let Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhai Patel be our models.”
Read the full text of the letter:
04-08-2020
Hon’ble President Sonia ji,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and happiness. I always pray for your wellbeing and prosperity. All the hurdles that humanity faces these days will be gone and let us learn lessons from every such difficult times.
This is a letter that I kindly register my concern regarding the responses of some Congress leaders like Shri. Kamal Nath ji and Shri. Digvijay Singh ji on Ayodhya Ram Temple event. This letter is maybe a long one. But I kindly insist to read it amid your busy schedules. I strongly believe that the Assassination of Mahatma Gandhiji and Demolition of Babari Masjid were the most treacherous incidents happened in the independent India. The basic values that this country was built like secularism and pluralism had been facing a devastating future all these times. It was always Congress which held the hope of this great nation and its beautiful legacy of plurality alive.
The Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya land dispute was a hope that an era of hate politics would end by it. But unfortunately, it is going on relentlessly. We can not take any type of stakes in it. I think that this particular event is a Sangh Parivar sponsored ‘Religious Political’ one. If we are not invited to this, why would our leaders beg for that?
Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadraji has taken a position which is acceptable, I think, in a way as she is wishing unity in the name of temple. We certainly know that such unity wouldn’t be there as far as Sangh Parivar has power. Still, by considering the ground realities of the politics in North India especially in Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Priyankaji has kept the concern and dignity in her statement.
But, other statements of some other leaders like Shri. Kamal Nathji and Shri. Digvijay Singhji has disappointed me a lot. There are million people who are grieving in the memories of Babari Masjid even though they are accepting the court verdict. Because, demolition was a kind of attack to their conscience. We are including that demography also. We can’t leave them in a despair. And sadly, the party has been left in defense by their statements.
It is clear that we are not against any temples or any other worshiping centres. Lord Ram is a cultural idol also. I have heard that there are traditional Muslim artists who make costumes and designs for the Ram Leela processions in Chandini Chowk, Old Delhi. We are with that sentiment. Personally, I am a believer. I visit and seek blessings of Lord Sreekrishna every month at the famous Guruvayur Temple. As a Hindu, Lord Ram is also an inspiration for the values of plurality. But, indeed, the Ram idol which is masculine and aggressive that Sangh Parivar has been exhibiting is not my Ram or Hindu’s Ram. There are numerous other Ram temples in Ayodhya. Most of them are known as the birthplace of Lord Ram. And all of them are having a fraternity with other religious communities. I strongly believe that a temple built by Sangh Parivar with the intentions of extreme communal politics will not be bearing the sanctity of other Ram temples built upon devotion and tolerance.
This is an unprecedented situation in which Covid19 pandemic became a huge threat to all of us. Our country is failing to control its spread. From Cabinet ministers to common people, nobody is exceptional from this pandemic. Still our country is performing weak and miserable. Currently, worshiping centres are shut down or controlling entries due to this pandemic. Yet our country is after such big events. And this is sad that our priority is not in the health sector. Instead it is set upon such religious-political issues.
We can’t chase an extreme religious nationalism with its soft prototype. We need to realise this situation and should accept an alternative, immediately. That should be upon the legacy of politics of unity, harmony and tolerance. Let Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhai Patel be our models. I believe that what ultimately matters is not the failures we face, but it is matter that we are not bowing low for the temporary successes.
I thought I should convey to the Hon’ble President my disagreement to those leaders in this particular matter. Congress party always had these agreements and disagreements within. Maybe these ironies are the strength of this great party. Let the best happen in the future for its legacy. And I have trust in your leadership like millions of others have faith in you.
Yours truly,
Stay safe,
T.N. Prathapan MP
Kerala
To,
Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji
Hon’ble President, AICC
10 Janpat, New Delhi
