Anti-superstition committee plans protest on Kalburgi's death anniversary

BELAGAVI: Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS), which is on forefront in fighting against superstitions, will stage protests in Maharashtra as well as Karnataka and other parts of the country on 30th August, on the day of first death anniversary of rationalist MM Kalburgi, condemning the slow pace of investigation by the agencies headed by states as well as centre.
MANS chairman Avinash Patil disclosed it in the meeting with the volunteers of the organization held here on Wednesday. Avinash Patil alleged as political parties have least priority towards eradicating blind faiths, investigation agencies are not putting efforts up to their mark in finding killers of rationalists Narendra Dhabolkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi. They are engaged in investigation just because of the fear of courts. “But we keep putting pressure on system in democratic way”, Patil told.
He also said “we are expecting Congress government in Karnataka to pass Anti-Superstition Bill as soon as possible on the lines of Maharashtra. We will approach CM and other concerned ministers for the same before legislature session beginning from July 4, besides also contact Prithviraj Chavan, former CM of Maharashra urging to interact with their party colleagues in Karnataka to pass the Bill. I hope Karnataka will pass the Bill”, said Avinash Patil. He added that although just making law can’t change everything but it create fear in the minds of offenders. Since the Bill passed in Maharashtra, courts have given convictions in five cases.
He also said MANS will start awareness campaign in Karnataka against superstitions. He said spreading superstitions is also a type of terrorism, not on the point of bullet but spreading fear of gods. He opined the programmes of eradicating superstitions should be considered as public welfare programmes by the governments. “In the campaigning against superstition, we lost our leader Narendra Dhabolkar, faced lathi charges and dealing with several criminal cases lodged by the government”, Avinash Patil said.
Will question conferring Saint award to Mother Teresa:
Avinash Patil said Pope Francis, couple of months ago announced of elevating Mother Teresa to Sainthood in the month of September. According to norms of Catholic Church, there is requirement of two miracles through supernatural powers by the person for elevating to the sainthood. “We will question the Pope about the outdated norms”, Avinash Patil said.
He said people of India honour Bharat Ratna and Nobel awardee Mother Teresa for serving poor and sick in the streets of Kolkata. “We object elevating a common person to supernatural power”, he said.