Dear Editor,
Naming of landing point as “Shiv Shakti Point” has infuriated the leaders of opposition parties. Congress leader Rashid Alvi has taken dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for naming the point. He has questioned the authority of the Prime Minister. That Modi is Prime Minister itself is the authority on which he has named. Why does it irk Alvi if the Prime Minister names the landing spot? ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has drawn curtain on the naming issue. Interacting with media persons during his visit to Pournamikavu-Bhadrakali temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Somanath has revealed “India has already assigned a few names to lunar regions and it is the tradition being followed by the countries carrying out lunar expeditions”. Each country can given names of their choice when they accomplish their mission in landing on moon. One can become Prime Minister or Chief Minister if he/she has the majority support. Modi can be deemed to be having and enjoying majority until he steps down for any reason. Why should it be thought that religious colour has been given for the successful expedition? An issue is being made out of non-issue. If the reason for anger is that it is named after Hindu God, then, be they Hindu, Chrisitian, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, nobody can be called by God’s name. Actor Chethan has taken exception for the scientists, responsible for successful launching of Chandrayaan-3, for visiting Thirupathi temple. If he does not want to visit temples, Churches or Masjids, it is not problem to anybody. But he has no authority to object for others belief in God in the name of freedom of speech. Freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution is being misused more now than ever before. This is the time to rejoice by all Indian citizens over the successful landing of Vikram Lander on Moon cutting across party line, caste and community line.
K.V. Seetharamaiah
