Ahmedabad: Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Thursday criticised the decision taken by authorities at the Somnath temple in Gujarat to restrict entry of non-Hindus inside, sans permission, and stated that the Central government has never supported any discrimination on the basis of religion.
"This is wrong and should not to be done because it is a public place and no discrimination can be allowed in the name of religion or caste," said Paswan in reply to a query on the recent restriction of entry of Non-Hindus in Somnath temple.
Authorities at Somnath, the famous pilgrimage of Lord Shiva in Veraval taluka at Gir-Somanth district in Gujarat have decided that non-Hindus can only enter in the temple after getting permission from the management.
Authorities cited security concerns and protection of 'sanctity' of a religious place for the restriction, saying other religions do not allow non-followers to enter their sacred places.
Somnath temple trust is governed by a trustee board headed by former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader LK Advani are other trustees.
Paswan said the Narendra Modi government in its first year of rule has focused on the core issue of development.
"I can assure that we have focused on the core issue of development," he said. "Some Sadhu or Sadhvis have given (deviating) statements.
But we feel that there must be no discrimination on the basis of caste of religion," said Paswan.
The minister also claimed that fear in minority community has decreased gradually in one year.
"In the last one year, fear in minority community has decreased gradually. Whatever Sadhus or Sadhvis had spoken, the government of India or the Prime Minister has never endorsed it," Paswan said.
"The government did not touch on controversial issues like Ram temple, Uniform Civil Code or article 370 and we only went ahead with the core agenda of development," added Paswan.
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