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Bhagavad Gita faces ban in Russia

17 December 2011

MOSCOW, 17 DEC: The Bhagavad Gita, one of the holiest Hindu scriptures, is facing a ban and the prospect of being branded as "extremist" literature across Russia. A court in Siberia's Tomsk city is to deliver its final verdict on Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors.

The case, which has been going on in the Tomsk court since June, seeks a ban on a Russian translation of Bhagavad Gita As It Is written by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). State prosecutors also want the text declared as a literature spreading "social discord", and its distribution on Russian soil rendered illegal. In view of the case, Indians settled in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the ISKCON religious movement here have appealed to Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh ~ who returned today from an official visit to Russia ~ and his government to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issue in favour of the scripture, an important part of the Mahabharata epic. ISKCON followers in Russia have also written a letter to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, calling for immediate intervention. The court had referred the book to the Tomsk State University for "an expert" examination on 25 October. But Hindu groups in Russia say the university was not qualified as it does not have Indologists. The Hindus pleaded with the court that the case was inspired by religious bias and intolerance from a "majority religious group in Russia", and have sought that their rights to practise their religious beliefs be upheld.

Indian diplomats at the embassy here, who were unwilling to be named, told IANS that they have been following up the case since the time it was brought to their notice earlier this year. They had also taken up the matter at the appropriate levels in the Russian government to get the case either withdrawn or get the defence to fight the case to obtain a favourable verdict. ians
Comments (1) markulyseas - Sunday, December 18, 2011 om 10:36:36The Right Wing Neo-Nazi Russians are gaining in popularity and

this is a clear instance where they are now influencing government/lawmakers to discriminate against Hindus. More is yet to come. Indian Hindus must not stand by wringing their hands and instead take the battle to these ruthless thugs.

Bhagavad Gita faces ban in Russia (DECCAN

HERALD 20/12/2011
Moscow, Dec 17, Agencies

The Bhagavad Gita, one of the holiest Hindu scriptures, is facing a legal ban and the prospect of being branded as ''an extremist'' literature across Russia.
A court in Siberias Tomsk city is set to deliver its final verdict on Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors. The final pronouncement in the case will come two days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his December 15-17 official visit for a bilateral summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, consolidated bilateral trade and strategic ties and personal friendship. The case, which has been going on in 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 and declared a literature spreading social discord, its distribution on Russian soil rendered illegal. In view of the case, Indians settled in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the Iskcon religious movement have appealed to Manmohan Singh and his 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. Iskcon followers in Russia have also written to the Prime Ministers Office in New Delhi, calling for immediate intervention, lest the religious freedom of Hindus living here be compromised. The case is coming up for a final verdict on Monday in Tomsk court. We want all efforts from the Indian government to protect the religious rights of Hindus in Russia, Sadhu Priya Das of Iskcon and a devotee of a 40-year-old Krishna temple in central Moscow, told reporters.

India takes Gita issue with Russian Federal authorities

Moscow, Dec 20, (PTI):

India has strongly taken up the demand for banning Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, which a group linked to the Christian Orthodox Church has described as 'extremist', with the Russian authorities, Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra said.
"The matter has been taken up by the Indian Embassy in Moscow with the Russian Government at senior official level, seeking its favourable and positive intervention in the matter," Ambassador Malhotra said, as the court in Tomsk postponed its ruling on the petition banning Bhagwad Gita as 'extremist' and allegedly 'sowing' social-discord in Russia. Describing Bhagwat Gita as extremist, a group linked to the Christian Orthodox Church has demanded ban due to conflict of interests between the Russian followers of Lord Krishna and the local authorities in the Siberian region of Tomsk. Malhotra personally and his mission here have been publicly expressed their support to the local

chapter of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court is scheduled for December 28, as the Court agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights in Tomsk Region and of Indologists from Moscow and St Petersburg (all of whom favour dismissal of the case). The case pertains to the legal relationship between a Russian registered socio-cultural organization and the local authorities. Nevertheless, the Embassy in Moscow has been publicly supportive and sympathetic in the matter. Malhotra has maintained regular, close contact with top ISKCON representatives in Moscow, besides attending the Janamashtami celebrations at the ISKCON temple on August 21, and visiting the ISKCON temple with Minister of Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay on September 24. Speaking in his capacity as the Chief Guest at last Janamashtami - the birthday of Lord Krishna revered by the Hindus as Christmas by Christians, Ambassador Malhotra called the Gita "perhaps the most important scripture that you can find in the world which through Lord Krishna's message to Arjuna teaches us selfless service to God and humanity." The translation by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is, I believe, one of the best that you can find, because he gives you the words, the meanings, and the options to understand it as it was written - not through any intermediaries," he had said and allowed the defendants to produce his public remarks in their submission to the Tomsk Court. ISKCON, Moscow, was also informally suggested by the Indian Mission to hire the best legal representation in Tomsk, co-opt established Russian Indologists to provide affidavits or evidence during the Court's proceedings. Meanwhile, ISKCON has shelved its plans to set up a community near a village in Tomsk region, which is believed to be the root cause of friction between the local Orthodox Christians and followers of Lord Krishna, Tomsk.ru city news portal reported.

Posted on Dec 17, 2011 at 06:22pm IST

Bhagavad Gita faces extremist branding, ban in Russia (IBN LIVE India)
Moscow: Bhagavad Gita, one of the holiest Hindu scriptures, is facing a legal ban and the prospect of being branded as "an extremist" literature across Russia. A court in Siberia's Tomsk city is set to deliver its final verdict on Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors. The final pronouncement in the case will come two days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his December 15 to 17 official visit for a bilateral summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev consolidated bilateral trade and strategic ties and personal friendship. The case, which has been going on in Tomsk court since June, seeks ban on a Russian translation of "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 and declared as a literature spreading "social discord", its distribution on Russian soil rendered illegal. In view of the case, Indians settled in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the ISKCON religious movement here have appealed to Manmohan Singh and his 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. The ISKCON followers in Russia have also written a letter to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, calling for immediate intervention, lest the religious freedom of Hindus living here be compromised. "The case is coming up for a final verdict on Monday in Tomsk court. We want all efforts from the Indian government to protect the religious rights of Hindus in Russia," Sadhu Priya Das of ISKCON and a devotee of a 40-year-old Krishna temple in central Moscow, told IANS. The court, which took up the case filed by the state prosecutors, had referred the book to the Tomsk State University for "an expert" examination Oct 25. But Hindu groups in Russia, particularly followers of ISKCON, say the university was not qualified as it lacked Indologists who study the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent. The Hindus pleaded with the court that the case was inspired by religious bias and intolerance from a "majority religious group in Russia", and have sought that their rights to practice their religious beliefs be upheld.

The prosecutor's case also seeks to ban the preachings of Prabhupada and ISKCON's religious beliefs, claiming these were "extremist" in nature and preached "hatred" of other religious beliefs. "They have not just tried to get the Bhagavad Gita banned, but also brand our religious beliefs and preachings as extremist," Das said. The ISKCON devotees have taken up the matter with the Indian embassy in Moscow too for an early diplomatic intervention before things get worse and the court passes an adverse verdict banning the Bhagavad Gita and Krishna consciousness teachings. In the Nov 1 letter addressed to Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji, ISKCON's New Delhi branch Governing Body Commissioner Gopal Krishna Goswami, said the prosecutor's affidavit claims Lord Krishna "is evil and not conforming to Christian religious view". Goswami also urged Manmohan Singh to accord priority to the matter during his Moscow stay and take it up with the Russian authorities. Indian diplomatic corps officials at the embassy here, who were unwilling to be named, told IANS that they have been following up the case since the time it was brought to their notice earlier this year. They had also taken up the matter at the appropriate levels in the Russian government to get the case either withdrawn or get the defence to fight the case to obtain a favourable verdict. Officials at the Indian Prime Minister's Office, who were part of the Indian delegation accompanying Manmohan Singh, confirmed to IANS the case and the letter they received from ISKCON in this regard. "This matter is receiving the highest attention and the Indian embassy officials in Moscow have been instructed to follow up the case with the Russian authorities," they said.

Parliament ruckus over Bhagvad Gita facing ban in Russia (Times of India)
IANS | Dec 19, 2011, 01.02PM IST

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 MinisterManmohan 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 SpeakerMeira 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.