today

DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has claimed that some BJP leaders conducted havans to hasten his death, a sensational threat perception that is sure to rock the parliament when it opens next week. A Havan is a sacred purifying ritual (yajna) in Hinduism that involves a fire ceremony. It is a ritual of sacrifice made to the fire god Agni.

Singh’s claims have amused and angered the BJP in equal measure. On the one hand, they are making fun of his accusation and of his faith “in a higher force”. On the other, they are categorical in their assertion that they will demand an explanation from him before allowing the parliamentary business to be conducted.

“How can a Prime Minister talk in such a senseless manner? These are the signs of a man on shaky ground,” BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

IMO: In the UK, major politicians of all parties make quite a feature of "faith schools", and these include Muslim and Hindu schools, as well as Christian schools, even if they do not offer fairness to all worshippers as, some say, they did not do in the recent 'Shambo' matter.. And in a sense, the 'Shambo' matter almost transcended religion in its moral significance, as an illustration of the moral superiority of Hinduism..It does seem that perhaps "senseless" is not quite the right word in an admittedly more historically sophisticated country like India.