Sushma's appeal to declare Bhagwad Gita a national scripture inappropriate: Mayawati

The BSP supremo said that people of the country were free to practice different religions

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday disapproved of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's appeal to declare the Bhagwad Gita a national scripture, terming it as inappropriate.

"People in our country practice different religions in our country, she shouldn't have given such a statement, her comment is not right," Mayawati told the media here.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said our nation runs with the help of the Constitution and the holy books of individual religions have their own place of importance.

"Every religion has its own holy book and it has its own importance, but for our country which is a secular democratic republic, which is India that runs with the help of our Constitution," he said.

The External Affairs Minister had reportedly called for declaring the Bhagwad Gita a national scripture, while speaking at an event on Red Front grounds to mark the "5,151st anniversary" of the Gita.

As per reports, Sushma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already given it the honour of a 'national scripture' when he had gifted it to U.S President Barack Obama.