The new ₹5 coins issued by RBI to commemorate the Silver jubilee of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has landed into controversy due to its secular credentials.
The face of the coin bears Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar with the legend Satyamev Jayate inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word Barat in Devnagri and on the right periphery flanked with the word India in English.”
It also bears the rupee symbol and denominational value ‘5’ in international numerals below the Lion Capitol.
However on the reverse of the coin, “the face of the coin has the picture of Mata Vaishno Devi in the centre with inscription ‘Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’ in Devnagri script on the upper periphery and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in English on the lower periphery.
Many Islamic bodies claim it un-secular. Maulana Mustaqim Azmi, president of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema in Maharashtra, said. “We might not be able to understand or accord the importance the goddess commands for Hindus, since in Islam, showing pictures of God/Allah is not allowed. Questioning the impulse behind the concept, he added, “We think this is a conspiracy by the government to rupture secularism in the country. We will stage a protest against the authorities.â€
Hindus too are confused while using this coin. Many Hindus do not use the coin for transaction, given the divinity cut in on it. One shopkeeper from Mumbai says, “I myself have kept two of these coins at my home temple for worshipping.â€
“Ours is a secular country and featuring the picture of a Hindu goddess on the coin will harm secularity,†said Dr Azimuddin president of Movement for Human Welfare.
Thoughtfully, he added, “Coins are given to beggars and tossed by saints during holy processions. With such instances, it is not proper to emboss a picture of a deity on it.â€
Some suggest, “If you want to avoid the conflict, then put motifs from all religions Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Christian on one coin”.