Anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar shot dead in Pune PTI

[prasad1]

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Activist Narendra Dabholkar, who was in the forefront of a campaign to persuade Maharashtra government to pass an anti-superstition and black magic bill, was shot dead in Pune on Tuesday morning by unknown assailants.


Mr. Dabholkar was found dead in a pool of blood at Omkareshwar bridge of the city.


Mr. Dabholkar, who was also editor of “Sadhana” magazine devoted to propagation of progressive thought, succumbed to bullet injuries in the Sassoon Hospital in Pune.


Pune Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol, who confirmed Mr. Dabholkar’s death, said that police were investigating the motive but no suspects have so far been identified.


Dabholkar spearheaded the “Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti” (Anti-Superstition movement) to change social mindset and inculcate scientific temper.


A staunch fighter for the cause of eradication of inhuman rituals and superstitions, Mr. Dabholkar was also in the forefront of the campaign to persuade Maharashtra government to pass an anti-superstition and black magic bill — opposed by certain sections of Warkari sect — in the State legislature.

 

[auh]

I read about it. It is a sad thing that gun culture is increasing in India. Life is taken in the wink of an eye. Nobody is safe.

 

[prasad1]

READ MORE Narendra Dabholkar Killing|Narendra Dabholkar|Maharastra Government|Anti-Superstition Ordinance
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After Dabholkar's murder, Maharashtra clears anti-superstition law

MUMBAI: A day after anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday decided to promulgate an ordinance to enact a long-pending bill to eradicate black magic, blind faith and superstitious beliefs. The law will be the first such in the country. The development came a day after the killing of Narendra Dabholkar, 69, who spearheaded a campaign against these social evils for the past three decades.


The Maharashtra cabinet decided unanimously to promulgate the Ordinance for enacting the Maharashtra Eradication of Blind Faith Bill as a law.
The development came as a fitting finale to a day of protests across the state, with Pune observing a spontaneous shutdown to condemn Dabholkar's killing. The bill, first introduced in 1995 in the state legislature, was redrafted at least 29 times. It passage was delayed several times due to stiff opposition from various quarters, especially Hindu groups which claimed it to be "anti-Hindu".


A prominent right-wing Hindu organization, Sanatan Sanstha on Wednesday appeared to gloat over Dabholkar's killing in its daily mouthpiece Sanatan Prabhat. This immediately resulted in a clamour by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) seeking an immediate ban on the organisation, though a Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson denied that there was anything wrong in the statement.


The new measure will empower the government to bring under its ambit social and religious evils, human or animal sacrifices, rituals to drive out evil spirits or ensure a male progeny, perpetrated by self-styled godmen, witchcraft and wizardry practitioners, often cheating the gullible public.
Now, in the wake of the statewide angst against Dabholkar's murder, the state government has adopted the ordinance route since the next winter session of the legislature is in mid-December.

 

[Nara]

.....The Maharashtra cabinet decided unanimously to promulgate the Ordinance for enacting the Maharashtra Eradication of Blind Faith Bill as a law.
The development came as a fitting finale to a day of protests across the state, with Pune observing a spontaneous shutdown to condemn Dabholkar's killing. The bill, first introduced in 1995 in the state legislature, was redrafted at least 29 times. It passage was delayed several times due to stiff opposition from various quarters, especially Hindu groups which claimed it to be "anti-Hindu".

So, these jokers think being against blind faith is anti-Hindu, nice. But at least they are principled, they admit their religious faith is blind faith.

A prominent right-wing Hindu organization, Sanatan Sanstha on Wednesday appeared to gloat over Dabholkar's killing in its daily mouthpiece Sanatan Prabhat. This immediately resulted in a clamour by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) seeking an immediate ban on the organisation, though a Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson denied that there was anything wrong in the statement.

Typical of Indian politicians, you hear something you don't like, immediately call for a ban. I hope rational people will not support such actions, let these worshippers of blind faith gloat over the brutal murder all they want, rational thought will always prevail in the long run.

The new measure will empower the government to bring under its ambit social and religious evils, human or animal sacrifices, rituals to drive out evil spirits or ensure a male progeny, perpetrated by self-styled godmen, witchcraft and wizardry practitioners, often cheating the gullible public.

Religion comes prepackaged with a liberal dose of evil, so to get rid of religious evil they have to get rid of religion itself.

Do we really need another law to eradicate human sacrifice? Superstitious practices cannot be eradicated by laws, apparently, even education can't do that. Our only hope is to evolve out of amygdala and grow a larger and more powerful neocortex.

thanks ...

 

[sarang]

[Salient Features of Black Magic Law: The Times of India
* Prohibits practice, promotion and propagation of human sacrifice, other inhuman, evil and Aghori practices and black magic, unauthorized, illegal practices of medicine or healing or curing by quacks, conmen etc.
* Such practices will be treated as offence and punishable with imprisonment for a term of six months extending up to seven years along with a fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000. The offences to be non-bailable.]

1. Murder in any form - committed, self inflicted (suicide), or induced/encouraged is an offence. In what way a sacrifice is different?
2. Black magic, aghori - who practices thses? Anyway any act or recommendation that causes hardship or injury is an offence even now (neighbour punching you for example)
3. Illegal practise of medicine, healing or curing by quacks, conmen etc. - even now such acts are punishable if reported as cheating and loss of money or belongings or ornaments. Paul dinakaran making a dumb boy speak or a an old lady getting sight on stage in front of a huge crowd will not be touched, but a village astrologer suggesting a parihara homa or yagna and charging for it will be arrested. Even Sri Satya Sai Baba can be arrested for producing and presenting a ling to a devotee.
3. The varkaris who take the annual yatra to pandarpur from alandi are against some of the clauses of the bill; still complain that their views have not been taken into account.

Anyway this bill will be used to settle local or secular scores only. And to harass political opponents.