‘Humanity more important than religion’: Suriya backs Jyothika, rubbishes trolls

Jyotika has been the centre of a heated social media debate after the actor’s statement at a recent award show. The 36 Vayathinile actor had said that people who donate to temples need to donate to our hospitals and schools as well. The comments sparked a wave of online hate against, as several Hindu sections took it as an attack on the religion, asking why didn’t she ask the same of mosques and churches. 

Actor Suriya has now backed his wife’s comments. In a statement, the actor strongly iterated that humanity is above religion, “Jyotika had wanted people to see schools and hospitals on the same tier as temples. But a few find this to be wrong. This is a thought that has been expressed by several philosophers like Vivekananda. All religions have considered schools and hospitals as a place of God. Humanity is more important than religion. This has been passed on to us by our forefathers, and we are clear about passing it on to our children.”

He further thanked the media and all well-wishers, who “stood up for them against people who had used unparliamentary language to defame them.” 

Collecting an award for her film Raatchasi, Jyotika narrated a personal anecdote from when she was shooting in Thanjavur. “I was told to visit the famous Brihadeeswara temple as it is very beautiful. I had already seen the beautiful temple. But the next day, my shoot was at a hospital that was very badly maintained. It isn’t possible to articulate everything I saw that day. I’ve said this in Raatchasi too, Goutham has said it. You are donating a lot of money to temples in many ways. Please do the same for our hospitals and schools as well. It is very important,” she said.