Moscow, Russia - Several Hindu organisations worldwide have protested the reported comments of the Archbishop of Russian Orthodox Church against Lord Krishna and his opposition to the construction of a temple in Moscow.
Archbishop Nixon in a letter to Moscow’s Mayor Yuri Luzhkov made denigrating comments against Lord Krishna and further requested him to ban construction of a proposed Hindu temple in Moscow, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on November 30.
"Construction of the temple to Krishna offends our religious feelings and insults the thousand-year religious culture of Russia," Interfax quoted Nikon as saying.
PM Manmohan Singh is understood to have discussed the issue with president Vladimir Putin during their talks on December 6.
The reported comments have raised the hackles of Hindu outfits.
"We cannot believe that in this age of respect and multi-cultural co-existence, a leader of the Russian Church chooses to make statements that are intolerant and disrespectful to one billion Hindus in the world," Kishore Ruparelia of the Defend Russian Hindus Campaign said.
"The motives for spreading such hatred are clear it is an attempt to discriminate and harass the Hindu community in Russia and stop them from building a temple," Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of Hindu Forum of Britain said.