Union government’s decision to reject the Kerala government’s republic day tableau themed on anti-Brahmanical social reformer Narayana Guru caused a furor in South India’s political circles.
Some prominent politicians to criticize the government’s decision include backward class leaders and former Karnataka Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah and H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Mr. Siddaramaiah asked the Union government “to apologise for insulting Narayana Guru and allow the tableau”.
He questioned the rationality and intention of the government by saying that Narayana Guru was a social reformer who fought for the rights of lower castes against untouchability and Brahmanical classes.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “Narayana Guru had propagated gender equality and was opposed to caste and communal hatred. The decision has been taken by those who do not know the history of the social reform movement in the country.”
Some Congress leaders of Karnataka also pulled up the government for rejecting the tableau.
While addressing a press conference, Congress leader Ramanath Rai condemned the Union Government. He said, “Sri Narayan Guru was a great visionary, spiritual philosopher, and social reformer who fought against the caste system, injustice, and social discrimination done to the suppressed backward classes by the upper caste”.
Invoking Sri Narayana Guru’s doctrine of “one caste, one religion, one God” he added that “by rejecting a tableau on him, the union government has insulted the great visionary and his philosophy”.
Notably, the Union government on Sunday also rejected West Bengal’s republic day tableau without “assigning any reasons” alleged Mamta Banerjee.
Ms. Banerjee, however, wrote to the Prime Minister expressing profound shock and grief.
She said “I have been profoundly shocked and hurt by the decision of the Government of India to abruptly exclude the proposed tableau of the Government of West Bengal from the ensuing Republic Day parade. It is even more baffling for us that the tableau has been rejected without assigning any reasons or jurisdiction”.
