UDHAGAMANDALAM (TN): Members of different communities today e-mailed a memorandum to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and also the Centre, to take necessary steps to include pictures of Gods and Goddesses under the schedule of Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.
Citing instances of empty packets with pictures of Gods and Goddesses lying on roads, dustbins, dirty places, with hundreds of people walking on them unknowingly , the memorandum said hundreds of vehicles ply over such pictures, “which amounts to hurting religious sentiments of the people, leading to the loss of right heritage and culture.”
The memorandum was sent by e-mail by social activist M Vijaichand, who is also a member of trading community.
Vijaichand, along with members of different religious communities, had in 2012 moved the Madras High Court to stop the practice of printing pictures of God and Godessess on consumer packets a and crackers.
Since then, several signature campaigns were conducted on the issue where large number of educated people, temple and church authorities signed the representations, which were sent to different authorities requesting them to take necessary steps.
Vijaichand said Gods and Goddesses have occupied the most important place in Indian history since ancient time and added that people gather in lakhs during religious festivals and pray for peace and prosperity.
The memorandum referred to the Madras High Court directive on September 1, 2014, to the Union government to include pictures of Gods and Goddesses under the schedule of Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper use) Act 1950 and pointed out that the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension and Department of Personnel and Training had also recommended including this in the Act.
