COMMUNALISM vs. SECULARISM. Is it a real-relevant debate?

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