Do individual temples have right to refuse entry to non-believers

 Some of you must be thinking that why I am getting into such issues? For me, no issue is trivial, and no phenomenon in the world not so important. There are scientific reasons behind each and every natural phenomenon. Also, there is sound logic behind each and every social and religious custom/practice. It doesn't matter how much we know, but it does matter whether we want to know or not. There is no harm in debates, until they are based on facts and are reasonable.

One important issue at present is whether the individual places of worship, especially in Hinduism, have right to refuse entry to non-believers or women. There are religions like Sikhism which allow all, irrespective of religion or affiliations, to come and offer prayers. But there are some particular places of worships in all major religions, which don't allow a certain set of people to enter their sacred places of worship.

Please consider these cases. I have references for each, and you can be assured of their authenticity.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Mecca or Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

At St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Rochester, New York, women are not allowed to be a priest or deacon and are not allowed to enter the altar during services.

Non-Mormons are not allowed inside the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

The Church of St. Mary‘s, Zion is said to house the Ark Of The Covenant, and Women are not allowed to enter.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques in Zanzibar, East Africa.

In Vatican City, there is a dress code for men and women, without which no one is allowed inside the churches.

Therefore we can see that such discriminating practices are present all over the world. In India, we have seen much hue and cry over the issue of non-entry of women in Sabarimala Temple and non-entry of non-Hindus at Guruvayur Temple, both in the state of Kerala.

An egalitarian will always say that entry should be given to all who are willing to offer prayers inside a temple. But there are complexities involving tradition and customs, based on some particular reasoning, which make such a decision difficult to implement.

See some more references from across the world: 

1. Article Title: Black Mormons struggle for acceptance in church

Link: http://www.rickross.com/reference/mormon/mormon201.html

2. Article Excerpt:

Different churches, even within the same denomination, will use very different styles of worship. Some will be elaborate, with a choir singing difficult music, others will hand the music over to the congregation, who sing simpler hymns or worship songs.

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ritesrituals/worship.shtml

3. News title: Christian arrested for visiting Mecca

Link: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55884

4. Information Excerpt:

According to Mormon doctrine, you cannot set foot inside a temple unless you are a member of the Church. Non-Mormons cannot enter Mormon temples. That’s just the rule.

Link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070515080325AAo8slK

Conclusion:

As the BBC writes, different churches or temples, even within the same denomination, use very different styles of worship. The styles of worship and the customs followed are based on some religious beliefs and at many places considered too sacred to interfere with.

As pointed by some of my friends, there are many important issues in our country which need the government's attention. I have always felt that the government interventions should happen only in the cases where the human rights of citizens are affected. It should act promptly against any act of racial discrimination, but to go after each and every temple in streamlining their customs, is too just much.

Through my search, I came to understand that several places of worship all across the globe, in all major religions, don't allow a certain set of people entry to some part of the temples or the whole. In India, the issue has been dilated because politics here is often mingled with the religion. Almost all political parties are against or for some particular religious affiliations. We should not count the issue of entry to non-believers as racism, but should discount them as exceptions, with their customs having limited applicable scope.

When caste was not a bad word by Sanjeev Nayyar

I am reproducing an article by Sanjeev Nayyar. I have always believed that the caste divide should go now. Even if the castes ‘saved’ the Hinduism from external attacks, at the present they are doing more harm than the benefits. This article justifies the caste system in Hindus and presents an alternative explanation to the things. I admit that I am not well learned one matter, that is why these days I am taking interest in the related matters. If you can suggest some references, I shall be thankful to you.

When caste was not a bad word by Sanjeev Nayyar

Article appeared in Hindustan Times, Mumbai on June 4, 2007.

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=04_06_2007_013_006&typ=1&pub=264 or

Were caste equations always as bad as they are today? Not quite. There were always castes but they were not backward.

Now that the Supreme Court has referred the matter of 27% reservations to a Constitutional Bench it might be worthwhile revisiting certain historical truths. Proponents of the 27% reservation for OBCs argue that reservations would help them overcome centuries of discrimination! However, if such animosity really existed between the forwards and backwards, how could the Indian Civilization have thrived for over 5,000 years?

A noted Gandhian, Dharampal visited British & Indian archives and reproduced reports of Surveys undertaken by the British in Bengal, Punjab and Madras Presidency (1800-1830). According to Collectors reports reviewed by Governor Sir Thomas Munro on 10/3/1826, of the 30,211 male school students in Madras Presidency 20% were Brahmins and Chettris, 9% were Vaishyas,50% were Sudras, 6% were Muslims and others were 15%. Madras Presidency then consisted of areas that fall in modern day Tamil Nadu, A.P, Orissa, Kerala and Karnataka. Another report by J Dent, Secretary, Fort Geroge dated 21/2/1825 stated that out of 1,88,680 scholars in all collectorates of Madras Presidency Brahmins were 23% while Sudras constituted 45%.

Startling as it may sound, these percentages establish that Sudras not Brahmins comprised the majority of students and scholars. How & Why do the Backward Classes find themselves in the situation they are today? 

Before British rule, traditionally, educational institutions were funded by revenue contributions made by the community and State. About one third of the total revenue (from agriculture & sea ports) was assigned for the requirements of social & cultural infrastructure (including education). This system stayed mainly intact through all previous political turmoils. The British, however, increased the quantum of land revenue and adversely changed the terms of payment for the community. They centralized collection of revenue, leaving hardly any revenue to pay for social and cultural infrastructure.

Further, the means of the manufacturing classes (small scale enterprises or SME in today's parlance) were greatly diminished by the introduction of European goods. Craftsmen especially those engaged in the making of cloth, manufacture and mining of metals, construction work were through fiscal and other devices reduced to a state of homelessness.

Sapped for funds, educational institutions and manufacturing classes became history, leading to grave consequences. One, it obliterated literacy and knowledge amongst the Indian people. Two, it destroyed the Indian social balance in which, traditionally, persons from all sections of society appear to have received a significant degree of schooling. Three, this destruction along with economic plunder led to great deterioration in the status, socio-economic conditions and personal dignity of those, now known as scheduled castes; and to a lesser degree, that of the vast peasant majority encompassed by the term backward castes.

From about the end of the 19th century, various factors began to attempt a reversal of the results of British policy. This led to what are now known as backward caste movements. The manner, in which their objectives are presented however, seems to suggest that the backward status they are struggling against is some ancient phenomenon. In reality, however, their cultural and economic backwardness (as distinct from their ritualistic status on specific occasions) is post 1800, and what basically all such movements are attempting to achieve is the restoration of the position, status, and rights of these peoples prior to 1800.

Dharampal wrote in Rediscovering India, For the British, as perhaps for some others before them, caste has been a great obstacle, in fact, an unmitigated evil not because the British believed in casteless ness or subscribed to non-hierarchical system but because it stood in the way of their breaking Indian society, hindered the process of atomization, and made the task of conquest and governance more difficult.

The interest in caste peaked around 1891 when the census came out with what were termed as Index of Castes. The word caste is of Spanish origin and fails to capture the meaning of the Indian term, jati, which more properly translated as community. Jati in traditional India promoted and preserved diversity and multiculturalism by allotting every jati a particular space and role in society so that no jati would be appropriated or dominated by another. America, which has long glorified the ideal of a melting pot of one assimilated culture, is now coming to see the value of the salad bowl model, in which different cultures co-exist in harmony. The epitome of this model was the Indian jati system, revealing that our ancient practices are relevant to the modern world. Moreover, the jati system was integral to the survival of the Indian nation: in Swami Vivekananda's words: Caste is an imperfect institution no doubt. But if it had not been for caste, you would have had no Sanskrit books to study. This caste made walls, around which all sorts of invasions rolled and surged but found it impossible to breakthrough.

So, the widespread notion that discrimination in opportunity for education existed for millennia is a dangerous misconception that clouds our policies and threatens the real progress of the backwards castes.

The logical next steps are that, one, caste based reservations must come with a sunset clause as was envisaged in the Indian Constitution. Two, since economic deprivation has led to backwardness, economic backwardness should be the basis of reservation. The apex court has said that the creamy layer in OBCs must be denied reservations. 

The reservations policy and caste-based politics of the last sixty years have managed to make people more aware of and narrowly identified by their caste, rather than focusing on true social and economic integration. Instead of increasing supply of education facilities, successive Governments have over regulated the sector, stifling its growth. Under the guise of protecting SMEs, government policy has made them less efficient and does not allow economies of scale.

The words Caste and Class have become conflated together, when in reality they refer to different phenomena. Also, the nomenclature used to describe the backward classes keeps changing. In the 1890s they were called The Depressed Classes. In the early 1930s, Gandhi named them Harijans. The Government of India Act 1935 introduced the words Scheduled Castes for the first time. Since the 1990s, the word Dalit has come into prominence.

Jats are a backward community in Rajasthan but a very powerful community in neighboring Punjab. Is there a comprehensive national definition of who constitutes an OBC?

There are multiple solutions to the Reservation problem that need to be pursued simultaneously. One, Government should focus on primary education only. Two, it must lay down a transparent regulatory framework for higher education. This would increase investment in education across various sectors. Three; it must lay emphasis on vocational training that would make a graduate employable. It should support institutions that provide short term courses in retail, financial planning, analytics and pharma. Once supply is enhanced and identity based reservation eclipsed, India will have an egalitarian educational system where the only affirmative action will be financial assistance to economically weaker students.

Four, help students strike a work / life balance. Five, allow student to expand their knowledge beyond mere academics and to strengthen and explore their inner nature. Education should also encompass Indian wisdom and thought. Six, success is enhanced by the power of concentration so students must learn how to concentrate. Lastly, students should be made to realize that a degree is a passport to a job! Therefore, personality and character count.

All actions originate from thoughts. Pure thoughts result in constructive deeds. The above ideas could help students be at peace within rather than be caught in the chakravuya of reservations.

With so much emphasis on education I remember Mark Twain's words, "I do not allow my schooling to interfere with my education."

Sanjeev Nayyar is a Management Consultant and founder www.esamskriti.com.

3 paras below were part of the article but not published at the discretion of the respected Editor. Thought they might be useful so here they are for you.

1. To read ‘The Beautiful Tree: Indigenous Indian Education in the 18th century” by Dharampal

http://www.esamskriti.com/html/essay_index.asp?cat_name=why&cid=1062&sid=174

2. Four, help students strike a work / life balance. Five, allow student to expand their knowledge beyond mere academics and to strengthen and explore their inner nature. Education should also encompass Indian wisdom and thought. Six, success is enhanced by the power of concentration so students must learn how to concentrate. Lastly, students should be made to realize that a degree is a passport to a job! Therefore, personality and character count.

3. All actions originate from thoughts. Pure thoughts result in constructive deeds. The above ideas could help students be at peace within rather than be caught in the chakravuya of reservations.

Contact the author: exploreindia@vsnl.net

To H.H. the Dalai Lama

Mumbai; May 29, 2007

Your Holiness,

On 10th of May, I had written an open letter to you. I strongly felt about the issue of mass conversion of tribes, nomads and illiterate poor Indian population in the faith of Buddhism. An event was to be organized in Mumbai on May 27th, where as the organizers claimed, more than one lakh Hindus including 1000 nomadic tribes families were to embrace Buddhism. I requested you from my heart not to be part of this event. The request came from my heart and was unadulterated.

I had your postal address (in Himachal Pradesh), but I didn't post it. Somehow, I had a feeling that I should not post it. The feeling was similar to the feeling when we wish something very deeply from God. We don't register our wish in any book, or get a receipt for our prayers at a temple. We wish, we ask Him and we know He has known.

I was eagerly waiting for the event to take place on May 27th. The next morning, I eagerly opened the newspaper. I came to know that you didn't attend that mass conversion which was being lauded as the largest mass conversion in India. I came to know that you even didn't attend the two days international conference on Buddhism and World Peace, which was organized to mark the conversion of Dr. Ambedkar into Buddhism.

I was touched and I can't explain the satisfaction in me when I saw this news report today: (Link: https://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/srilanka/20070527004024.php?PHPSESSID=cea0605e5193ec72828bc0bf7d4beacd )

But the two-day fete, which included an international conference on `Buddhism and World Peace,’ did not start on a grand scale as the spiritual leader Dalai Lama did not turn up to inaugurate it. That, however, did not dampen the spirit of the monks. In his message, the Dalai Lama said conversion to the Buddhist faith was not so important as were efforts to change society.

Your message conversion to the Buddhist faith is not so important as are efforts to change society has touched me deeply. I feel you answered my prayers. No one can be more specific than this. Your message not only answered to the points that I raised in my letter, but also it explains your stand over the issue. Please bless those people also who see politics in the religious conversions, as you have blessed me. With my heartfelt regards.

Yours in peace,

I address you, the powerful

[Read this in conjugation to my writing Open Letter to H.H. the Dalai Lama on May 10, 2007]

To the editor, Hindustan Times

On May 9, 2007, Hindustan Times Mumbai reported under heading Nation's largest religious conversion at racecourse, that on Sunday, May 27th, India's biggest religious mass conversion will be held at Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, where more than one lakh people including 1000 nomadic tribes families will embrace Buddhism. The organizers declared that His Holiness Dalai Lama would perform the rites.

On May 27, 2007, HT again published a report about the International Conference on World Peace and Humanistic Buddhism, which was held in Mumbai on May 25 and 26. The same report asserted that on Sunday, about 20,000 people will convert to Buddhism.

On May 28, 2007, a day after the event, HT reports that about 200 (Two Hundred) nomads and other people converted to Buddhism in the mass conversion. The report also tells that Dalai Lama didn't come to attend or perform the rites.

Why should not I accuse your newspaper of sensitizing the issue and creating hypocrisy? Your tale of 1 lakh, then 20000 and finally 200 is a story in itself. There is already a politics out there of getting more and more Hindus converted to Buddhism and Christianity. I am not saying that religious conversion should be banned. But why all the Christian missionaries have their base in tribal areas? And why all the people converting to Buddhism are poor and illiterate? The present scene more than indicates that there is politics and hidden agenda involved in this issue. Nomads, tribal and illiterate poor people are joining other religions not because of some real spiritual inclination or sense of enlightenment. They are converting because they are falling pray to the agenda of some people and organizations who want to weaken Hindustan. But why your newspaper got involved in spreading false messages and collecting cheap publicity for those organizations? We expect better examples of mature journalism from HT.

To the editor, Times of India

TOI reported about the mass conversion on May 28th under the heading Thousands embrace Buddhism. I want to bring out major flaws in your report. These are from your report:

Though the number of people present at Mahalaxmi Race Course was a little less than the expected figure of 100,000..

By evening, their number had swelled to at least 50,000.

..thousands of eager hands went up in the air amid loud Buddhist chants and ‘Jai Bhim’ slogans, initiating hundreds of new converts into the Buddhist fold.

In the first sentence quoted here, you mention that the number of new converts were a little less than one lakh. In the second sentence, you say it was at least 50,000! And in the last quoted sentence, you talk about hundreds of new converts! I never expected such laggard attitude in your esteemed newspaper.

Reference: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Thousands_embrace_Buddhism/articleshow/2078096.cms

To Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President, Sri Lanka

I can see from the report published in the Indian news papers that you participated in the two-day International Buddhist Conference in Mumbai, and you lauded the contribution of Dr. BR Ambedkar to Buddhism. In the same conference, you said: He (Dr. Ambedkar) had pioneered the renaissance of Buddhism in India and was responsible for millions embracing Buddhism in the land of its birth. The international meet was to mark the 50th anniversary of Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism.

You have yourself counted the teachings of the Buddha as metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (rejoicing in other’s good fortune) and upeka (equanimity). I am not sure how someone responsible for millions embracing Buddhism becomes a great man in your religion. Have you people forgotten the teachings of Buddha and have focused only in increasing the headcounts in your faith? Doesn't that make you equal to some secret society in North Korea, which wants more people to come under its fold? In any case, from today onwards, you should be more admiring to the Hindus. While standing on the Indian soil, you talk of millions embracing Buddhism, and none among Hindus protest.

Reference: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=d5e35d17-9284-4533-9482-ce0b18a19e53

To the men and women who got converted

Hi, As you must be feeling great after getting released from the atrocities of your religion of birth, I am happy that you did what you wanted to do; and more than other things, no upper caste person prevented you from this. As you are now Buddhists, you are free from the clutches of the discriminating Hindu caste system and oppression system. I want to say something to you.

If your child is in school, in some time he or she will need to apply to a government seat, either for educational or for job. Should I expect that now you shall mark yourself as General Category?

To the members of parliament in India

As a matter of fact, converts into Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism continue to remain Scheduled Castes and get benefit of the caste based reservation system. Is this justified? As they have converted out from Hindu caste system, they are now equal to all and are free from the discrimination and stigma attached to their castes. But why the rules made by you keep them in the reserved categories? Can you justify why should they continue to be included under SCs? If not, why don't you make the corrections?

Thorat Committee and Art of Making Reports : Part-II

Know your AIIMS:

AIIMS was created to be the premier medical institute in India by the central government in 1956.

It has been ranked repeatedly at the top in its field in annual surveys (starting in 1997) published by India Today.

It ranked first in Asia in the medical colleges and institution survey (MCIS) conducted by WHO for 2006-07.

It earned the First Priority Hospitals (FPH) standard by Time Magazine.

As per Forbes (Germany), most European nations recommend AIIMS for medical tourism in Asia.

The hospital has been able to maintain high standards of quality while seeing large numbers of patients (3.5 million in 2006) at very low cost to patients.

MBBS at AIIMS has a batch size of 50. (33 Gen, 11 SC/ST, 1 phy handicap, and 5 international students nominated by Government of India). Around 75000 students appear for its entrance test every year.

Main courses offered by the institute are: MBBS, MD/MS, DM/MCh, BSc courses in Nursing, Paramedical and medical specialties, MSc, MBiotech, PhD in many specialties, etc.

Recently Dr. BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital’s construction has been completed. It specializes in medical, radiation and surgical oncology.

Know your Dr. P. Venugopal

Director of AIIMS since year 2003.

Dr. Venugopal has been associated with AIIMS for 48 years. He joined the institute in 1959 as an undergraduate, did his post-graduation from AIIMS and has been associated with it ever since. He joined AIIMS as a faculty member in 1970.

He performed the first Heart Transplant surgery In India in 1994.

It was after this pioneering surgery by him, that the Govt. of India passed an act allowing transplant of hearts of Brain Dead patients (mostly accident cases) to needy Cardiac Patients. Hundreds have benefited by that Act.

He is one of the topmost cardiac experts in India.

He has received several international awards in his field.

He has conducted over 50,000 open heart surgeries.

He was decorated with Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his achievements.

After the events of being sacked by the board headed by health minister, Dr. Venugopal said, “I am looking forward to maintaining the autonomy and dignity of the institute for which I have always fought,” adding he could ignore the “personal humiliation” meted out to him.

Know your Dr. A. Ramadoss

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

He is President of AIIMS.

Member of Rajya Sabha (elected in 2004).

He was a student of Madras Medical College and did his MBBS from there.

He belongs to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founded by his father Dr S. Ramadoss.

Got Dr. Rajashekharan (a close relative of his) elected as chairman of the selection committee at AIIMS.

Some of his contributions to India are:

Urged film and sports stars to not endorse soft drinks
Publicly contested UN figures on AIDS in India
Advocated statutory warnings for smoking on screen

He is nicknamed “the minister for Venugopal affairs”; and “a bull in a china shop” infamously.

The war between the veterans

The tussle between the AIIMS director Dr. Venugopal and Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is almost two years old. The AIIMS director and the Health Minister did not get along from the very beginning as Venugopal was seen as a BJP-appointee. Problems began with Ramadosss stay at the AIIMS guest house when he became Health Minister.

In May 2006, when the protests against proposed 27% reservations in central universities gained momentum all over the country, many students from AIIMS joined the protests. They staged a strike and all medical services were shut but parallel OPDs were started after the strike had been carried out for a long time. The strike continued till 31 May 2006 when the doctors called off their strike after the Supreme Court of India orders. Union health minister Dr. Ramadoss accused Dr. Venugopal for supporting the protesting students. 

On 5th of July, 2006, a day before the birthday of Dr. Venugopal, AIIMS governing body met over an ‘extra ordinary meeting’ in the morning. As president of AIIMS, health minister Ramadoss presided over the meeting. Dr. Venugopal was member-secretary body and he too had come for the meeting. But he was asked to wait outside of the meeting room by Dr. Ramadoss. Dr. Venugopal waited outside the room for over one hour. Then he was called in and handed over his termination letter. Points to be noted here are:

Decision or discussion over the fate of the director of AIIMS was not in the agenda of the meeting.
There was no consensus in the 15 member board on sacking the Director, but no voting was carried out.
Three members, including BJP’s VK Malhotra were vocal in their opposition to the decision, but were not heard.

The despotic manner in which Dr. Ramadoss carried out this episode invited wide criticism from the press. But most of the newspapers in my memory wrote some sort of obituary for Dr. Venugopal, as if he was a dead man. The TOI made a mockery of him, under title “Ramadoss’s birthday gift to Venugopal: Sack letter”.

The day after, Dr. Venugopal filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, challenging the decision to sack him. Senior counsel Arun Jaitley (BJP) appeared for Venugopal in the court. The attitude of the government here is noticeable. The Centre told the court that it was willing to withdraw the resolution seeking termination of services of director Venugopal provided he relinquished his office on his own. It showed that the government was very sure that court will not try to interfere in its decision to sack the director, and they would continue running the country as their farmland! But, on July 7, the Delhi High Court stayed the sacking orders. It was a victory of one man standing against the clout of a despotic minister backed by the government of India.

It should be noted that the Mandal-II protests were a success not only in AIIMS, but also in IIT Delhi and many other institutes. The increased reservations were to put large pressures on the limited infrastructure and education facilities, therefore many industry leaders and experts criticized this law. Some members of national knowledge commission, a think tank set up by the government of India had resigned in protest against the dictatorial attitude of the government. Also, AIIMS has a history of coming out to the causes of the national importance. During the Emergency, AIIMS Students Union was among the first organizations in the country to go on strike, and was banned by the government. Protests were held all over India, but one man  the union health minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss made sure that he uses the issue to gain control over the institute. The war instigated by Dr. Ramadoss not only attacked the AIIMS director and the autonomy of the institute but also spoiled the educational environment in an institution of higher learning.

Those who supported Dr. Venugopal:

1)     The BJP: It was the NDA government which had appointed Dr. Venugopal as the director of AIIMS in 2003. Therefore it was natural that the BJP came to his support and called him one of the greatest doctors of India. BJP spokesperson Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad said, This public humiliation is completely unwarranted. The government should not interfere in the functioning of AIIMS. (But after a while, like all other issues that BJP took up, gradually the party became less vocal on the issue and afterwards became totally silent. Loss of a strong opposition is not because of the weakness of the BJP or NDA, it is because of the ruthless manner in which the Congress party goes after its adversaries until they become silent.)

2)     The TDP: There were some attempts by the party to make this issue an issue of pride of people from Andhra Pradesh. Deccan Herand News reported on July 6, 2006 that the TDP had sought the intervention of President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reinstate ousted AIIMS Director P. Venugopal to the post and demanded the removal of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss in this connection. Party spokesman M V Mysoora Reddy said, “His unceremonial removal is a great insult to all Telugu-speaking people and Union Ministers from Andhra Pradesh”.

Some comments from other netizens

Just four of these comments would assure you that the Indian electorate is very much learned about the issue. Public understands what is Truth and what is Thorhat!

“If IIMs can have autonomy and Mr. Narayan Murthy can get vocal about mere decrease in fee or reservation, why a different set of rules for Dr. Venugopal and AIIMS?”

“Health minister Dr. Ramadoss studied at Madras Medical College (possibly on a quota seat) … He appointed his sisters father-in-law as a member of the AIIMS committee and he is son-in-law of the Tamilnadu congress president….. If he had ever practiced medicine, then he would have known what Dr. Venugopal has done for Indian Medicine and would have not been so vengeful…”

“Coming from a rich background riding the caste politics from Vanniyar community, this minister has no qualifications to be a politician, except that he is the son of an influential casteist politician, from a small region in TN.”

“He (Dr. A. Ramadoss) wouldn't have survived in private sector if he had behaved like that.”