23 March,2009 09:34 AM IST | | Chandran Iyer
Dr Narendra Dabholkar, the founder-president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, has been demanding an anti-superstition bill.
And now, in view of the horrific rape of a 21-year-old girl by her own father in connivance with a tantrik, their demand assumes even more significance.
Curb superstition:
People have been believing in superstitions and have been following aghori practices in rural areas. How do you see the shocking incident that took place in Mira Road near Mumbai where a father raped his own daughter in collusion with a tantrik?
Dr Narendra Dabholkar,
the founder-president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti
It's really appalling. Such cases used to happen in rural areas but such a thing happening in a city like Mumbai is indeed shocking. I doubt whether we are actually living in the 21st century.
Don't you think some stringent laws should be made to curb such practices?
Of course. There was an urgent need to have such law. The Democratic Front government, as a part of its common minimum programme, had promised to pass an anti-superstition law but nothing has happened so far.
Why do you think is government wavering on it?
The government does not have the political will. It does not want to displease some section of the society who would be hurt if such legislation is passed. The Maharashtra Legislative Council had passed a resolution in 1995 to enact a law against superstition but it was never implemented.
But what according to you is the problem in implementing the law?
Some right-wing organisations have been opposing the implementation of the anti-superstition law. The government very well knows that there is no substance in their argument. However, it doesn't want to antagonise them as it could affect their vote bank.
Apart from the law, what else do you think should be done to stop such things?
The media should play a constructive role. I am sorry to say but the electronic media has been overplaying irrational thinking and behaviour. Look at the stories and serials that are being shown on the TV channels.
They are just creating more superstitions in the minds of the people.
