Vijayamma : Humanism is our religion

Taking objection to a provoking debate over some channels over her carrying a copy of the sacred Bible in her hands during the Maro Praja Prasthanam Padayatra of her daughter Sharmila, the YSR Congress Party honourary president Smt. Y. S. Vijayamma made it clear that carrying a bible is her personal issue and asked the media not to debate it.

“My husband passed away and my son is in jail and I carry the bible to keep up my confidence and courage, “Vijayamma told media persons at her MLA camp office at Pulivendula on Sunday.

Asking the media to stop the unnecessary debate over a non-issue, Vijayamma said her faith in God is her personal issue. “It is my individual and personal belief. I started carrying bible to get courage after the death of my husband. I am at a loss to understand as to why media is debating over the issue. That is my constitutional right too.  Am I indulging in preaching? Why is the media raking up the issue repeatedly? The sacred book gives me courage and consoles me when I have it in my hands,” Vijayamma said clarifying things and asking the media, religious heads and politicians to stop debating the issue.

After the death of my husband and jailing of my son Jagan, I have been keeping the company of bible which gives me courage and confidence and the ability to speak, she said. “I respect all religions and visit even Masjids. I participate in any religious worship and prayers irrespective of the religion. Human blood is same and humanism has no religion,” she said, adding that the late YSR only taught her and other family members loving people irrespective of their religion.

Recalling that she used to carry bible wherever she went including the assembly, Vijayamma said 700 persons sacrificed their lives after the death of her husband since he was a humanist. “No other Chief Minister in the post-independent India has allotted funds for regular Pujas and Naivedyams in temples besides making arrangements for regular salaries to the Archakas as YSR,” she said and added Muslims were also given four per cent reservations by her husband.

Vijayamma also observed that Akhanda Deepam is maintained regularly in her brother’s house even today and whenever any Swamiji or Hindu religious preacher visits the town, his brother would play the host for them with due respect.

“So, please understand and stop any debate over the issue,” she appealed to news channels, print media, politicians and religious heads.

(Updated on Oct 22,2012)