Nitish Kumar and his Secular Face

Nitish Kumar and his Secular Face

 —— Pradeep Shankar

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has stoked a controversy after he refused to cover his bare head inside “Gurdwara Bal Lila” on  27^th December. When the Chief Minister was requested to cover his head before entering the Gurdwara premises, which is a strict protocol in the Sikh community, Nitish flatly refused to oblige citing poor health as a reason. Nitish entered the premises without his head covered.

This is historical Gurdwara in Bihar.  During his expedition, the ninth Guru Tel Bahadur left his family in Patna. The tenth Guru Sh. Guru Gobind Singh spent his childhood here. A Gurdwara named as  “Gurdwara Baal Leela” was built here by the people who loved him. This is known as one of the holiest places in Sikh religion. People throughout India come here to express their love & gratitude for the tenth Guru & pray for their welfare.

As per tradition, when one visits any Gurudwara, he/she has to cover his/her head as in the same way when someone visits saint or Mandir or Masjid, he has to cover their head as per Indian tradition. Nitish himself use to wear “skull-cap” during Muslim’s festivals. But while he went to “Gurdwara” he refused to cover his head. When he visited the same “Gurdwara” last Jan-2013, he covered his head as mark of respect to Sikh Guru & Sikh Religion. But this time he chosen otherwise.

This is not an isolated incident. Even before he has made fun Hindu tradition in front of general public. This is not question is whether Nistish Kumar believes in all this or not. He has full right to believe or not believe these traditions. But public display of this type of disrespect to well-laid tradition is not good. Can he dare to do the same to Muslim traditions? No he can’t because as Muslim votes are very important to be CM of the state. Making fun of these traditions is nothing but showing utter contempt to Hindu/Sikh Traditions & show of arrogance on the part of Nistish Kumar.

He is among those secular public figures who don’t feel shame by bowing their heads at Babur & other Mughal Emperors but have no respect to the great people who sacrificed their life for freedom of this country. This is not an isolated incident by arrogant secular leaders. His own minister gave statement that soldiers are meant to die when no one attended funeral of a soldier who died at LOC. Manishakar Aiyer did the same for Veer Sarvakar. A secular Muslim MP  disrespected “Vande Mataram” in parliament. When PM Manmohan Singh, head of secular government visited Afghanistan, he specially went to Babur’s grave to bow his head there. That is another thing that even Afghanistan Government was not aware of its existence & they had to make efforts to locate & trace that grave. 

Our PM is Sikh also. Will he call for Nistish Kumar’s explanation for showing disrespect to Gurdwara Traditions? No he will not because he is also secular. 

Let me clarify that not covering head by Nistish Kumar is neither anti-nation nor anti-religion but certainly it is anti-public sentiment, it is anti-tradition. Question is why these “secular” leaders do this? If they don’t believe in these traditions, they have full right not to follow them. But following traditions at one case & not following at other cases, can’t be dignified on their part though some may say it “Secular“. 

Nitish Kumar is a person of dual character. He attacked Narendra Modi at one point of time saying that leaders have to don a topi and tilak at the same time. At mosques he has no aversion in wearing a skull-cap and clicking pictures with Muslims but at Gurdwara he did not cover his head despite Sikh leaders asking him to do so. He is feigning secularism. Perhaps had Sikh been 15 per cent in Bihar he would have no problem in covering his head.

On this particular incident, Nitish said that he himself did not go there but Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee invited him. Does it mean he can insult that holy place if he is chief guest there? We must find answer what has happened in last 10-12 month which has changed Nitish & made him so arrogant that he has started insulting the Indian religions. In the name of Sikh Gurus, specially Guru Gobind Singh, head of every Indian bows with respect. Nitish has insulted that Guru. Why? Just for Vote?

Shame.. . Nitish should apologize to Sikh community & Indian Public.

——————————

Disclaimer: Story related to this post was first published in India today written by Rohit Kumar Singh  Patna, December 27, 2013 | The writer does not vouch for correctness of the story & incident/clarifications afterward. 

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A retired employee. Keen watcher of social life. Likes to read book & interact with people. Very spiritual but not religious.

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