Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 8: "Entire families in villages and towns are seen to be glued to television sets in the morning, watching astrological predictions aired by private television (TV) channels, whiling away their precious time. I am at a loss for words on how to stop these people from following blind beliefs and superstitions, and toeing the line advocated by astrologers and self-styled religious guides. This appears to be a systematic plan. Our women and girls, particularly those belonging to the lower strata of the society, should be wary of such programmes," felt Karnataka chief minister(CM), Siddaramaiah. When several people from among the audience cheered him for these remarks and asked him to ban such programmes, he promised to think positively on this suggestion.

It may be recalled that the state government had expressed itself in favour of bringing a law to ban blind beliefs and superstitions in the state, and the call for urgent enactment of such a law has gained the proportions of a crescendo after the murder of rationalist researcher, Dr M M Kalburgi.

The CM came out with the above remarks during his participation at a congratulatory programme to Dalit rights activist, Dr D G Sagar, on Monday December 8, where representations seeking ban on superstitions and age old practices having no scientific relevance were presented to him by a number of people. It may be recalled that Swamiji of Manava Dharma Peeta, Nidumamidi Chennamalla Swamiji, had led a mega rally in the city recently, demanding implementation of law against superstitions.

In his reaction to this development, noted writer, Prof Chandrashekhar Patil said he is not in a position to say anything about it, as private television channels are not under the control of the government. Some astrologers like Dr Maharshi Anand Guruji and Harish Kashyap opined that astrological predictions, if done properly and by learned men, are accurate and scientific. They held themselves against daily predictions and programmes run by people not having thorough knowledge about astrology. K S Vimala, president of Janavadi Sangha pitched for total ban on predictions, accusing astrologers of spreading unfounded belief systems through predictions by having a firm grip on prime time on television. She added that a stronger demand to ban such programmes was made based on unwarranted developments like murder of Prof M M Kalburgi, and that the CM had rightly responded to the just demands of the people.