CM non-committal on making Women the 'Mhajan'
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 18 July 2012 14:09 IST
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar was today non-committal on giving rights to become Mahajan in the temples to the women folk.
A demand in this regard was made by St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh in the Assembly.
The issue came up during Question Hour while discussing amendment to the Goa Civil Code, ending discrimination and making the eldest daughter the family head to decide partition of the property.
“Will the government also amend the Mahajani Act of temples in Goa, giving rights to women the Mahajan of temples”, asked Wagh.
Parrikar termed this demand as “complex” since it deals with religious matters and not civil matters like the Civil Code amendment suggested by the members.
“I am personally for such kind of equality to both men and women even in the temples, but I cannot say what would be the government view on it”, said Parrikar.
He also argued that his government is secular and does not want to interfere with religious matters.
He also asked Wagh whether the issue of Pramod Muthalik’s Sree Ram Sene coming to Goa was not enough for him.
Wagh seized the opportunity to state that people like Muthalik should not be allowed in Goa.
He however pointed out that even British took a firm stand on discrimination in the religious matters in India and abolished the Sati system by making a law to ban it.
Parrikar agreed but said the matter is complicated since it brings in the issue of married daughters who belong to one Mahajani family before marriage and then to another one after marriage.
The chief minister however agreed to study the issue if a proper note is prepared in this regard and a notice is given.
