A police complaint was filed in Hyderabad on Friday against DMK MP Kanimozhi for her remarks against the famed Hindu temple at Tirupati.
Karuna Sagar, a lawyer, filed a complaint with Saeedabad police station, stating that her remarks had hurt his religious feelings. He sought action against the DMK leader.
At a World Atheist Conference organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam in Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi praises the manner in which the institution runs but then goes to question devotees' belief in the god.
She remarked that one can pay more money to buy a ticket and get special 'darshan' while others have to wait for hours and even days.
In the speech, she says that she was taken to the temple along with other MPs, by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu when they were part of a Home Affairs Committee. Kanimozhi praises the manner in which the institution runs but then goes to question devotees' belief in the god.
"It is a very well run institution and we have a lot to learn. I give it to them," says Kanimozhi. "Since we were all MPs, we were provided a special way to see the god. They say everyone is equal in front of god but that is a lie. If you give more money and buy ticket you get special dharsanam. If not, you stand for 10 hours, 20 hours or two days. That is god," she adds.
Kanimozhi also demanded to know why there was an armed security guard to protect the money collection box kept right in front of the god. She questioned the need for a security guard and asked if god was really there, would he/she not protect it.
"Those who look at us and call us non-believers – I have a question for them. It’s true, none of us here believe in god, you (the audience at the atheist conference) don’t believe in god. But those who claim to be believers, do they actually believe? For one, you say there is no god except your own. I’m just saying even that one god doesn’t exist. That’s all," she concluded.
While Kanimozhi's speech is in line with the Dravidian ideology that emphasises on atheism, it upset members of the Hindu Munnani, who filed a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner.
In the complaint lodged with the Hyderabad police, the complainant argued that since Kanimozhi was an atheist, she had no right to question the temple system.
The Hyderabad Police said they would take legal opinion before proceeding on the complaint.
IANS Inputs