Should railway stations exhibit pictures of gods, goddesses and religious icons?

No, says Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

After introducing earthen tea cups and khadi linen on trains, the minister is now eager to free the railway stations from
all religious influences.

A communiqué from Railway Board Chairman R K Singh has instructed railway authorities to remove pictures of gods and goddesses from all stations.

But the directive has angered railway employees, travellers and, yes, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The instructions followed complaints that many railway stations had large photographs of gods exhibited on platforms and even in the offices of station masters and duty managers.

When contacted, a senior official at the Southern Railway said that no specific order from the Board chairman had reached any stations under his supervision as yet.

"But an inspection remark from the Railway Board chairman has been sent to us. Yes, the communication says that railway stations should not be used for any religious activities," the official told rediff.com.

Photographs of Lord Muthappan and Goddess Lakshmi are displayed at many stations in the Southern Railway Zone. Hundreds of thousands of devotees who travel in trains to religious places also use the stations to pray.

During the seasonal trip to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala, hundreds of devotees use railway stations to conduct poojas.

Railway employees also conduct Ayudha Pooja every year during the Mahanavani festival at railway stations.

Officials said a number of photographs of Hindu gods and goddesses hung in the railway offices may have prompted the Railway Board chairman to issue the order. "Also, the railway authorities want to ensure that the stations are free from all religious activities, especially after the Godhra train tragedy," an official said.

Railway Caterers' Association national president N B Krishna Kurup said it is not proper on the part of the government to ban prayers and other religious activities at railway stations.

"Everyone has the right to religious worship. Railway stations are used by millions of people every day. So what is the harm if some of them worship before their gods at the stations," Kurup asked.

BJP leader P S Sreedharan Pillai said the party would oppose any directive to ban religious activity on the premises of railway stations.

"The Sabarimala devotees from across the country conduct poojas on railway station premises. No government has the right to ban religious beliefs," Pillai told rediff.com.

He charged that the railway minister has been forced to issue the communiqué at the instance of the Communists and the atheists who are controlling the Manmohan Singh government.