Protest over ban on Gita in Russia rocks India from Loksabha to Russian Consulate, Kolkata.

ISKCON monks demonstrate in front of Russian consulate Kolkata to protest over Gita ban in Russia.
Indian Parliament ruckus over Bhagavad Gita facing ban in Russia.
See video:  Protest over Gita Ban in Russia

NEW DELHI: Parliamentarians across the political spectrum on Monday asked the government to ensure that the religious rights of Hindus in Russia are protected after a member pointed out an IANS report about the Bhagvad Gita facing a ban and the prospect of it being branded as “extremist” literature there.

Angry MPs forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha till 2pm after Biju Janata Dal leader Bhartruhari Mahtab raised the issue in the house and asked the government to intervene immediately to ensure the religious freedom of Hindus in Russia.

He said a court in Siberia’s Tomsk city was set to deliver its final verdict on Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors, as was reported by IANS on Saturday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on an official visit to Moscow.

“I want to know from the government what it is doing. The religious rights of Hindus in Russia should be protected. The government should impress upon the Russian authorities through diplomatic channels,” he said.

The case, which has been going on in the Tomsk court since June, seeks a ban on a Russian translation of the “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” written by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

It also wants the Hindu religious text banned in Russia, declared as literature spreading “social discord”, and its distribution on Russian soil rendered illegal.

Indians in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the ISKCON religious movement in Russia have appealed to the Indian government to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issue in favour of the scripture, an important part of Indian epic Mahabharata written by sage Ved Vyas.

When Mahtab raised the issue, the lower house plunged into chaos, with MPs urging Speaker Meira Kumar to let them speak on the matter. She, however, refused and instead asked them to send notes and associate with Mahtab.

Lalu Prasad of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RLD) was heard shouting that the Hindu scripture does not preach extremism.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members were also seen rising from their seats to protest the issue before Meira Kumar adjourned the house till 2pm.

ISKCON monks demonstrate in front of Russian consulate Kolkata.

KOLKATA : 19/12/2011 : Monks belonging to ISKCON sect today staged a demonstration in front of the Russian consulate here at 22 A Raja Santosh Road , Alipore, Kolkata  decrying any move by a Siberian court to ban Bhagwad Gita across Russia. Some other Organisations like Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, Arya Veer Dal, Rashtriya Goraksha Manch also participated in the dharna under the sole initiatives of the Devotees of Harkrishna Mahamantra. The demonstration started on 11-30 am and continued till 2-00 pm. A team of ISKCON Monks gave a memorandum to the Russian Consul General here not to ban Gita in Russia in any manner.

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Holding placards and posters and chanting ‘Hare Rama, Hare Krishna‘ to the beating of drums and cymbals, nearly 100 monks of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) appealed to all MPs to pass a resolution in Parliament condemning the action of a group linked to the Christian Orthodox Church which has moved a Russian court seeking a ban the holy book by describing it as ‘extremist’.

“These initiatives of the Tomsk Prosecutor’s office offend the religious sentiments of all followers of Hinduism and bring disgrace to the country of Russia,” the ISKCON posters said.

Press Release of ISKCON Kolkata to protest the ban on Gita in Russian Court.

“Gita, the holiest Hindu scripture, is facing a legal ban and the prospect of being branded as an extremist literature across Russia,” Srimad Radharaman Dasa, Manager ISKCON temple told the media.

Over 100 copies of Srimad Bhagabad Gita, As It Is have been distributed to the participants, cops on duties and the passers by who were actually overwhelmed with the chanting of Harinam Sankirtanam and divine dance with the Sankirtanam.

Sri Raj Natahany and Sri Krishnakant Tiway, Advocate of Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha condemned the attempt to ban Srimad Bhagabad Gita in Russia even after the destruction of Communism in Russia. Upananda Brahmachari eminent Hindu preacher, thinker and interlocutor was also present in the demonstration and told the press that the lovers and admirers of Gita will only stop this protest until the nefarious attempt to ban Gita is completely nullified. A bigger protest is awaited all over the Globe.

However, the Russian Consul General heard the monks of ISKCON very patiently and assured that he will convey the matter of sentiment and the protest of the Gita loving people in the right and higher authority. Hare Krishna !!