To everyone who follow the political hullabaloo in
India, it is common knowledge that this debate rakes up during every
election. Whether it is the media, or the "secular" parties who do
this effectively to minimize the effect of the "communal" parties is
anyone's guess.
Is it really relevant to the common man? Is it the
real debate running in the voter's head when he thinks about the upcoming
election? Or is it just another hoopla conjured up by the current ruling party
to flush down the political advantage they have gifted the opposition through
their bad governance?
In my understanding, Secularism is defined as a
doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations. It asserts the
freedom of religion and at the same time asserts freedom of the state from
religion. A secular state, thus should be neutral on matters of belief, and
should not give any privileges or subsidies on religious basis.
India was not a secular state until 1976, when
during Indira Gandhi- induced emergency the word "secular" was added
to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution through the 42nd amendment.
Is India truly a secular state? The answer is a
resounding No.
) The Country does not have Uniform Civil Code.
2) State with Majority Muslim Population has a special
status.
3) Minority Institutions are not required to
implement Right to Education Act.
4) Government controls the Hindu places of
Religious Worship and gives a free hand to other religions.
5) Government of India subsidizes Haj Travel
but taxes Kumbh Mela, Raises Rail fares when Kumbh is on.
6) Government proposed and issued a executive order
on Minority quota in government jobs.
7) Most states have 3.5 - 5% minority quota in
Educational institutions.
8) Government shortened Amarnath Yatra to appease a
section of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Those were ones who saw Amarnath Yatra
as CIA-Jew-RAW-Hindu conspiracy.
9) Government is planning to put restriction on the
number people who can travel to Hindu Pilgrimage centers that
are situated in the Hills in the name of environment.
10) Hindu Goddesses are insulted in the name
of Freedom of Expression and you are not supposed to question other
faiths.
In run up to 2009 elections BJP manifesto
talked about Introduction of Uniform Civil code and Abolition of Article 370.
The Divas in Media said that UCC/Article 370 is a
communal agenda and questioned BJP's committment to Secularism. They
told the unsuspecting audience and viewers by bringing in UCC and abolishing
Article 370 BJP will divide the Society on Religious lines and it will flare up
communal tensions in India.
Right to Education is one act I oppose tooth and
nail. Off late Hindu Society run schools are doing extremely well across India.
Most of the Toppers in State Boards/ICSE/CBSE come from schools run by the
Hindu Society.
Here is Sibal defending RTE Passionately
defending 25 % quota in Schools in his Alma Mater that does not come under the
RTE act. There are poor people in Minority community as
well. RTE will not help those poor people to get into those good schools run by
those community. Sibal on his part wants to destroy the good schools run by the
Hindu Society and help the Minority institutions re-establish their
supremacy in field of education.
Take the case of Tamil Nadu; Government of Tamil
Nadu controls 36,425 Temples, 56 Mutts and 47 temples belonging to the
Mutts , 1721 Specific Mutts and 189 Trusts, Its land holdings and its finances
through its Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.
All these Temples,Trusts
and Endowments give a revenue of Rs.5,500 Cr to the State government.
What is worse here is RTI's have revealed that Revenue from temples are not
fully utilized to enhance the infrastructure and facilities in
Temple. They have utilized these money to give subsidy to other religions.
RTI documents have further revealed that Places of
religious worship of other religions are standing in land belonging to the
Temple Trust.
Few Months back
Karnataka Government asked all temples to pray for rains in
state,Media created a drama that Tax payers money is being wasted on Havans and
Poojas. The Fact of the matter is that Temples used the Temple Trust Money to
do Havans and Pooja's for rain. Not a penny of Tax Payers money was used to do
these Havans and Poojas. Media will not tell you the truth about the issue.
Indian Government roughly spends about $165 Million
of Haj Subsidy each year. If you question the those subsidies then you will be
termed as Hindu Bigot/Communal and you will be called names.
Indian Railways in 2010 during the Haridwar Kumbh
Mela raised ticket fares and made a killing. BJP raised this issue in a big way
then Railways agreed to withdraw the hike.
Quotas in Governement Jobs and
Educational Institutions for Minorities. Religion based quota is not
permitted under the constitution. Supreme Court has struck down those
reservations.
If you need a job in government or seat in a
Professional college to study and work in Government then you should study in a
Public School. Madrasa education won't help you in getting a Government Job or
seat in Professional College.
A Hindu who does not study in Public School or
College does not aspire for Government Job. If he studies in a Vedic School he
at best can be a Purohit/Archaka in a Temple likewise Muslims should also
realize that Madrasa education will not help him in getting a government job or
a seat in Professional College.
Sibal off late is talking about making Madrasa
education equivalent to 10 CBSE Board exams. If X applies for a Government Job
in Grade IV or V, He/she needs to have a certificate of SSLC/HSC leaving
certificate to apply for the Job which is something Madrasa education won't
give. Even if it gives it is not recognized by the Government.
Instead of demanding Quota from the
Government and blaming the Government/Political Parties for its backwardness
they should look inwards and see to it their kids are sent to Public Schools
and Colleges. It will help them in integrating with society much better.
In India, Media and Liberals consider appeasing the
Minority as secularism. Hindus are progressing better because they are not a
monolithic vote bloc as Muslims. Hindu are free voters so they see
progress and development more than the Muslims. Muslims are still struck
in Victimhood narrative and their cause is hijacked by Convent educated
Muslims and they keep their community poor in order to assert their political
supremacy.
If Muslims think this kind of appeasement by Nitish
and other secular folks will help their cause then they are sadly mistaken.
This kind of politics will keep them poor for decades to come.
For BJP and the Hindus who are not the so called
secular variety Secularism is a losing game. Media is hostile to you and your
thought process. Marxism/Nehruvian Secularism and Socialism is ingrained in
their mindset.
BJP needs to pin this Government on
Development,Governance and delivery not on Secularism and Pseudo
Secularism. BJP will automatically become Secular if it gets 180+ seats in
2014. If it plays the secular card thinking it will get more allies then
its core voters will desert and party will cut a sorry figure in 2014.
BJP has to decide whether it wants its core voter
to vote for the party or it wants to search for the voters who are not going to
vote for party in any case.
For BJP to do well in 2014 it has to come out of
the NDA/NDA+ idea. NDA idea has kept BJP struck in 1998. BJP needs to
disband NDA to do well. Once it crosses 180+ seats then allies will come and
join.
For Hardcore Hindus and BJP, Secularism debate is a
losing game, They need to change the narrative from Secularism to
Development/Good Governance. They should not fall into Liberal Media trap on
Secularism.
Theme for 2014 should be Development/Good
Governance Vs Mal Governance and Dynasty politics
