‘VIP darshan’ culture at religious places should be stopped: Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar

‘VIP darshan’ culture at religious places should be stopped: Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar

Mangalore Today News Network

Dharmasthala, January 8, 2025: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Tuesday that “the very idea of VIP darshan (at religious places) militates against divinity” and it should be stopped.

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the new three-storey queue complex ‘Sri Saanidhya’ on the premises of Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala.

Belittling equality

The Vice-President said: “...When precedence is accorded, when priority is given to someone, when we label it as VVIP or VIP, this is belittling the concept of equality. VIP culture is an aberration, it is an incursion when viewed on the anvil of equality. It should have no place in society, much less in religious places. I hope this Dharmasthala being led by a luminary of all times will serve as an example of egalitarianism and let us shun for all times VIP culture.”

Earlier, Mr. Dhankar said: “...A soothing change in recent years in our country has been infrastructural growth that is germane to our religious places. This needs to be applauded as these are centres also of our civilisational values. Religious institutions are emblematic of equality since there is no individual higher before the Almighty. We should re-instil the idea of equality in religious institutions.”

Political climate

The Vice-President said that political climate in the country is a challenge as much as climate change. “We have to work to harmonise it.”  

“There is an urgent need in the country to ensure, to think, to reflect on deep political divisiveness. We cannot ignore our long-term gains and commitment to nationalism for short-term gains. The political temperature in the country need to be moderated by rational minds...,” he said.

Politics not for bitterness

Mr. Dhankhar said that politics is not meant for bitterness. Politicians will and must have different ideologies. The object of politics should not be power alone. It should be serving society and the nation.

India is defined by its diversity because the diversity converges into unity. “But why should there be political bitterness? That’s not our culture,” he said. “We believe in universal brotherhood, sisterhood. We take the world as one family. Can we 24/7 only be politicking? Can we 24/7 engage only for political gains?,” he asked.

Dialogue and expression

The Vice-President said that dialogue and expression defined democracy and they should go together.

“...If our right of expression is curtailed, diminished, the best of an individual cannot come forward. But if we insist only on expression and do not believe in dialogue and insist only on expression and believe that we have all our rights, we are unfair to humanity...,” he said.

“I appeal to every one in this country from this religious platform to give priority to expression and dialogue,” he said.

The Vice-President said that the people challenging law enforcement authorities and public order and damaging public properties should be severely dealt with. Anyone who challenges public order must he held accountable, he said.