Not correct to push for Gita as national scripture, says Shashi Tharoor

New Delhi: Congress on Monday refrained from commenting on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's proposal to have the Bhagwat Gita declared a national scripture and made light of the issue even as some of its leaders voiced reservations over the minister's views.

"Has she said it in foreign countries? You are saying that the foreign minister has said this (but) I have not seen it. So, it is very difficult to articulate the party's views on it," Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

Joining the chorus of disapproval against her remarks, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor today questioned how one holy book could be deemed as being "holier" than others in a multi-faith country.

"I am also a Hindu, but in our religion there is not one holy book, there are many books. If you take Gita, what about the Vedas? What about Upanishads?... There are many opinions, we cannot just like that say that one book is holier than others," Tharoor told reporters outside Parliament.

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He also wondered as to how there could be talk of one national scripture when several religions are practised in the country.

"I am of the opinion that for the government to talk about such things is not correct," Tharoor said.

Former Union Minister Manish Tewari had yesterday flayed Swaraj for the comments.

At the AICC briefing, Ahmed also made light of Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai's claims that the Taj Mahal was "part of an ancient temple".

"Do you take their words seriously. When you are not taking these (claims) seriously, why should we," Ahmed said.

Told that the remarks were made by a state BJP chief, Ahmed took a dig at the saffron party, saying, "You see what kind of people become president in BJP... Amit Shah became the national president even as he faced a CBI case."

PTI