The government on said that it is in touch with the Russian government and its ambassador in New Delhi on a Tomsk court hearing a petition seeking ban on a Russian translation of Bhagavad Gita.
The government on Tuesday said that it is in touch with the Russian government and its ambassador in New Delhi on a Tomsk court hearing a petition seeking ban on a Russian translation of Bhagavad Gita for being “extremist literature”.
Meanwhile, Russian ambassador Alexander M Kadakin expressed sadness over the development, saying it is “inadmissible” that a holy scripture is taken to court.
“It is strange that such events are unfolding in the beautiful university city in Siberia, as Tomsk which is famous for its secularism and religious tolerance,” Kadakin said in a statement here.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, external affairs minister SM Krishna said, “The complaint in a Russian court appears to be the work of some ignorant and misdirected or motivated individuals. While this complaint is patently absurd, we have treated this matter seriously and the Indian embassy is closely monitoring this legal case.”
“We have also taken up this matter at the senior levels of the Russian Government… The matter was also taken up with the Russian ambassador, “ he said and added that “Our embassy in Moscow has been in regular touch with the local representatives of ISKCON since this matter came to light in June 2011...ISKCON representatives were advised to take legal recourse to counter this misdirected complaint.”
Krishna said, “The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court was due on December 19, 2011, but has been rescheduled for December 28, 2011, as the Court has agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights in Tomsk District, and of Indologists from Moscow and St. Petersburg.”
He added, “We do not want to dignify with too much attention some misdirected individuals who have filed an absurd complaint. We are confident that our Russian friends, who understand our civilizational values and cultural sensitivities, will resolve this matter appropriately.”
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