Gender discrimination ends in British throne succession

Nevada, Oct 29 (IBNS) A US based Hindu group has applauded the decision of granting girls equal rights to British throne succession.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Saturday, said that "it was a step in the right direction". It was long overdue and it would bring an end to the centuries old chapter of British royal gender discrimination, he added.

Quoting scriptures, Zed pointed out that ancient Manusmriti said: "Where women are revered, there the gods are pleased; where they are not, no rite will yield any fruit." Number of Rig-Veda (oldest existing scripture of mankind) hymns were said to be composed by women, and Aditi, who was sometimes referred as "mother of the gods", found mention in Rig-Veda as a goddess.

Rajan Zed also commended lifting ban on the monarch marrying a Roman Catholic. British monarch should have the freedom of choice of marrying anybody belonging to any denomination or religion.

Zed further said that legal requirement for close relatives seeking consent of the monarch before marrying should also be discarded. Moreover, monarch should be free to choose any religion/denomination he wanted, including Roman Catholicism, because it would ensure equality of faiths.

Representatives of 16 Commonwealth countries having Queen as head of state unanimously approved these changes in royal rules in a meeting in Perth (Australia) on October 28.

The 16 Commonwealth nations, known as realms, which have a voice in changing royal rules, include: Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St Lucia and the Bahamas. This Commonwealth summit was presided over by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.