Kerala plans law against superstition

Kerala government plans to bring out an anti-superstition legislation, but wants consensus in society to curb cruel practises held in the name of religion, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said today.
He was replying to a calling attention moved by K Sivadasan Nair (Cong) in the assembly to the necessity for enacting a law to prevent the uncivilised and cruel practise of piercing of spears in body parts, including that of children as part of religious customs.
The Minister said that certain practises are part of age-old religious customs and traditions. "They cannot be banned by law. They can be curbed only after arriving at a consensus in society by discussion."

However, government was planning a legislation against superstition and uncivilised practises similar to the one introduced by Maharashtra Government, he said.
The draft of the bill is being prepared and government expects the legislation to be introduced in the house either during the current session or the next session, he said.
The bill was in the backdrop of recurrence of tragic sorcery cases, he pointed out.

Nair wanted government to ban the body piercing in the name of religious rituals being held during the festival period in several Lord Muruga temples in the state.
"Even small children are also subjected to such cruel practises', he pointed out.

'I do not think, any God will be happy by watching such a painful ritual', he said.