April 15, 2014
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2014/04/15/temples-ruling-against-tenets-of-hinduism/
FMT LETTER: From V Murugeswraan, via e-mail
I refer to the FMT article, ‘Hindu Sangam flays Sivan temple management’. The temple’s ruling is just another example of how the disabled community is being discriminated, as even access to temple is being curbed. The temple management’s ruling shows how primitive, rigid and inhuman they are.
Places of worship should be made accessible to everyone. There shouldn’t be any form of discrimination just because an individual is on a wheelchair. Like every other human being, disabled people also have the inherent right to surrender to the god.
The temple management’s absurd ruling shows lack of empathy towards the disabled community.cI firmly believe that the decision to bar disabled devotees itself is against the core principle of Hinduism which preaches and practice respect and service to people with disabilities. Hinduism teaches that persons who help others who are poor or disabled attain “puniya” – a step towards heaven.
Therefore, I urge the community which throngs the said temple to show their solidarity in ensuring that such a ruling is done away with immediately.
The writer is president, Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia
Also read:
Hindu Sangam flays Sivan temple management