NEW DELHI: An AIADMK member today demanded in Lok Sabha that Thirukkural, a Tamil classic written by saint Thiruvalluvar, be declared a "national scripture", saying such a decision will add to the pride of country.
P R Sundaram's demand comes days after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj suggested that the Centre should declare Bhagavad Gita as a ‘Rashtriya Granth’ (national scripture).
She had said only a formality remained to be done in this regard.
In the House today, Sundaram said the book, which consists of 1330 couplets offering the saint's commentary on almost every aspects of human life, is without any discrimination against caste, creed or religion.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa has been a keen advocate of the demand and the state assembly had passed a resolution to this effect way back in 2004.
"It will add to the pride of country," Sundaram said.
Om Prakash Yadav, a BJP member from Bihar, raised the issue of perceived threat to his life.
He said his life was under threat from a former Siwan MP who is presently serving life imprisonment after being convicted in a criminal case.
Yadav said he had read in newspaper reports that the said former MP was hatching conspiracies in jail with his supporters to kill him.
"I can be killed any time," he said.
The MP claimed that over 50 of his associates have been killed over the years by the person he accused of planning to kill him. He demanded that he be transfered to Bhagalpur jail.
Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai said the issue is a state subject.