Calling A Religious Leader To Address An Elected Assembly, Isn't A Wrong Precedent Being Set?

Jain religious leader Tarunsagar, who is a Digambara monk and the author of a book series titled Kadve Pravachan appeared naked in the Haryana Assembly and delivered a 40 minutes lecture. The lecture was named as “Kadve Vachan”. The religious leader was introduced by Haryana’s chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and took the dais at the VIP visitors’ gallery with governor Kaptan Singh Solanki sitting next to him. The saint spoke on a host of issues. It is indeed surprising on the choice of an unelected religious leader to address the assembly has been taken, and going by the words of the representatives of the Haryana assembly, more such religious heads are to be invited to address the assembly.

Few things to ponder:
1. Religious leader inside a legislative assembly:
Was it right to call a religious leader to give a lecture inside a legislative assembly? Is it not a wrong precedent being set? India is a secular nation. Those who agree that religious leaders can be called inside an assembly, will they be comfortable if religious leaders from different communities start addressing the assembly.

2. Addressing an assembly without clothes:
We neither want to spotlight the discussion on nudity or obscenity (as Muni Tarunsagar belongs to the Jain community and the Digambar Jain monks in their spiritual belief wear no clothes) nor do we want to divert the discussion on the contents of the speech. The Logical Indian believes in peaceful coexistence and respects every religious belief.

However, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar once said: “If women wanted freedom why don’t they just roam naked?”. In an assembly which has women legislatures also, was it appropriate to have an individual addressing without any clothes? The assembly is a symbol and pillar of our democracy which demands high public probity. Why did the government overlook this basic aspect of decent dressing when invited to address an assembly filled with representatives of the people.

3. If the assembly intends to welcome individuals to address the assembly, couldn’t they have invited prominent personalities like Bharat Ratna recipients or policy analysts or sports persons or any eminent leaders from other countries on the lines of how our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was invited to address the US assembly?

The Logical Indian strongly feels that a wrong precedent is being set here by inviting a religious leader in a legislative assembly where a different personality with no religious background could have been invited to address the assembly. We have to use the opportunity of inviting speakers to better use by inviting scientists, grassroots leaders, activists, sports personalities etc.