Remove "Secular" from our Preamble
"We, the People of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India
into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic and to secure
to all its citizens;"
By the 42nd Amendment, the term ‘Secular’ was incorporated in the Preamble. Its inclusion simply made the secular nature of the Indian Constitution more explicit. As a state India gives special status to no religion. There is no such thing as a state religion of India. India guarantees equal freedom to all religions. All religions enjoy equality of status and respect.
Equality of status and respect. No religion in this country will be treated specially or in a demeaning manner. Does this still hold true?
I guess not.
We use religion to our own benefit, however we see it necessary. On one hand, people get regular benefits, both politically, socially and economically, for being a follower of a certain religion. On the other, people kill others for "protecting" a certain religion. And all of these are happening because of some confused and convoluted political agenda. In other words, these incidents become state sponsored.
When religion becomes a priority for the state, how can that state remain secular?
When people of power say cows must be saved. how can that state remain secular?
When a chief minister announces "special allowance" to Imams, how can that state remain secular?
And these activities are resulting in lynching, riots etc.
The funny thing is, if you are the guy with the logical mind, and protesting these incidents, you become target and victim. If you are protesting against beef ban, you are a Muslim, "deshdrohi", "Pakistani" and what not. If you are protesting "special allowance", you are a Hindu fanatic, "chaddi" etc. The moment you cite an example, it is immediately identified as something against some religion or against the country and people start posting even bigger counter-examples. This is so childish!!
I do not support waiving Pakistani flag on our soil, I do not support saying "Pakistan Zindabad", but I also do not support beef ban, I also do not support "special allowances" and privileges in the name of religion.
A truly secular state will not encourage any of these. But alas, that is far from happening.
From the other side,
A Mallick
By the 42nd Amendment, the term ‘Secular’ was incorporated in the Preamble. Its inclusion simply made the secular nature of the Indian Constitution more explicit. As a state India gives special status to no religion. There is no such thing as a state religion of India. India guarantees equal freedom to all religions. All religions enjoy equality of status and respect.
Equality of status and respect. No religion in this country will be treated specially or in a demeaning manner. Does this still hold true?
I guess not.
We use religion to our own benefit, however we see it necessary. On one hand, people get regular benefits, both politically, socially and economically, for being a follower of a certain religion. On the other, people kill others for "protecting" a certain religion. And all of these are happening because of some confused and convoluted political agenda. In other words, these incidents become state sponsored.
When religion becomes a priority for the state, how can that state remain secular?
When people of power say cows must be saved. how can that state remain secular?
When a chief minister announces "special allowance" to Imams, how can that state remain secular?
And these activities are resulting in lynching, riots etc.
The funny thing is, if you are the guy with the logical mind, and protesting these incidents, you become target and victim. If you are protesting against beef ban, you are a Muslim, "deshdrohi", "Pakistani" and what not. If you are protesting "special allowance", you are a Hindu fanatic, "chaddi" etc. The moment you cite an example, it is immediately identified as something against some religion or against the country and people start posting even bigger counter-examples. This is so childish!!
I do not support waiving Pakistani flag on our soil, I do not support saying "Pakistan Zindabad", but I also do not support beef ban, I also do not support "special allowances" and privileges in the name of religion.
A truly secular state will not encourage any of these. But alas, that is far from happening.
From the other side,
A Mallick
Comments
Post a Comment