Constitution is the 'Holy Book' in democracy: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's remark that only a formality remained before declaring Bhagwad Gita as the national scripture, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the Constitution was the "Holy Book" in a democracy.

"Our Constitution says India is a secular country. The Constitution is the Holy Book in a democracy," Banerjee told PTI here reacting to Swaraj's remark that Bhagwad Gita would be declared as "Rashtriya Granth" (national scripture).

"We respect all holy books equally. They are all our pride," Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, said.

"Quran, Puran, Ved, Vedanta, Bible, Tripitak, Zend-Avesta, Guru Granth Sahib, Gita - we respect all," she said.

Pressing for the Centre to declare Bhagwad Gita as a "Rashtriya Granth", Swaraj said only a formality remained to be completed in this regard.

Swaraj was speaking at "Gita Prerna Mahotsav", organised "to celebrate 5,151 years of religious book Gita" at the Red Fort Maidan in Delhi where VHP President Ashok Singhal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately declare the sacred text of Hindus as a national scripture.