TIRUPATI: Jana Sena Party chief and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan emphasised the need for the immediate enactment of an Act to protect Sanatana Dharma in the country, and the establishment of Sanatana Dharma Protection Board, at both the national and State levels, which should receive annual funding for its effective functioning.
Addressing ‘Varahi Sabha’ in Tirupati on Thursday, he highlighted the key points of JSP’s ‘Varahi Declaration’.
Pawan Kalyan asserted that secularism should be upheld in a manner that guarantees a uniform response to threats against any religion.
The JSP chief proposed the concept of ‘Sanatana Dharma Certification’ to guarantee the purity of materials used in offerings to the deities and prasadam at temples, ensuring strict adherence to spiritual standards. Pawan Kalyan underlined the need for evolving a strategy of non-cooperation towards individuals or organisations which spread hatred or harm Sanatana Dharma.
Law weaker towards strong & stronger towards weak: PK
“There is a need for a singular voice, transcending linguistic and political differences, to propagate Sanatana Dharma,” he stressed.
Expressing respect to other religions, he highlighted the country’s core principle of unity in diversity. Furthermore, the JSP chief said the temples should be reimagined and they should evolve into centres not only for spiritual practices but also for promoting art, culture, education, economic development, environmental conservation and community welfare. He called for a comprehensive planning to transform these institutions into multi-faceted hubs for societal growth.
He described Lord Rama as the embodiment of Dharma, while identifying Lord Venkateswara as its representative in the current era. He expressed frustration over the disregard he faces for his beliefs and the ridicule aimed at his practices.
Indirectly addressing the comments of his Tamil Nadu counterpart Udhayanidhi Stalin for describing Sanatana Dharma as virus, Pawan Kalyan accused ‘pseudo-secularists’ of stifling Hindu voices in the guise of secularism, and noted the increasing criticism directed at Sanatana Dharma and Hindu deities. “Would it have been the case, if it was Islam and Christianity,” he asked.
Taking exception to the lack of judicial action against such a blatant attack on Sanatana Dharma, he felt the law applies differently to different people. “This is clear that the law applies weaker to the strong and stronger to the weak. This proves majority means not necessarily strength but weakness,” he observed, adding that in the eyes of pseudo-secularists secularism is one way but not two way.
He urged unity among Hindus, lamenting that divisions based on caste and region have weakened their collective strength. He criticised the then State government for failing to address injustices faced by the Hindu community, and warned that those who threaten Sanatana Dharma should proceed with caution now.
Taking serious exception to the comments of Rahul Gandhi on the inaugural of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said, “Rahul Gandhi compares Rama Mandir inaugural as Nach Gana and none of the Hindu Sanatanis should get hurt and have to be happy about it.”
Pawan Kalyan criticised Rahul Gandhi for seeking votes from the Hindu community while showing the lack of respect to their beliefs, saying, “You (Rahul Gandhi) want the votes of all Sanatana Hindus to get into power, to be a political leader and the opposition leader of the country. You want all the votes of Hindus and you don’t respect Lord Rama.”
He termed the attempts to extinguish Sanatana Dharma futile, likening such efforts to trying to explode the Himalayas with a gun.
Pawan raised concerns over the past mismanagement within the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), and questioned the integrity of previous board members. He wondered where former TTD EO Dharma Reddy had disappeared, and questioned how could anyone give clean chit to former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy without clearing the issue of Srivani Trust controversy.
Pawan Kalyan raised pressing questions regarding the YSRC’s response to recent attacks on temples. He slammed the YSRC government for committing numerous injustices over the past five years, and accused it of disrespecting High Court and Supreme Court judges. “It is not just about former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (YS Jagan Mohan Reddy). I never pointed out that he was the perpetrator. I had only raised the point that happened during the previous YSRC government,” he averred.
He urged people to prioritise the well-being of the State over political agendas, noting that he never imagined he would speak out so passionately in his lifetime. He reiterated the belief that if we protect Dharma, Dharma will protect us.