Some days ago a judge of the Meghalaya High Court while dealing with a case made an unacceptable observation that whereas at the time of Partition in 1947 Pakistan declared itself as an Islamic nation, India, instead of proclaiming itself as a Hindu nation preferred to remain secular. Most unfortunate statement from a person in the judiciary, to say the least!
What has Pakistan achieved by declaring itself an Islamic country other than getting involved in religious superiority to the extent of even supporting Islamic militancy and providing them a safe haven in their country? Has Pakistan ever enjoyed the spirit of democracy with so many military uprisings overthrowing the elected governments time and again? Isn’t it a fact that despite having a democratically elected government it is the military which is dictating terms every now and then? We are well aware how with the religious bigotry deeply rooted in the minds of the majority they have been invoking the blasphemy clause repeatedly targeting people of the minority community, with the world watching them with angst yet unable to do anything.
If India is acclaimed in the world it is because of its secular credentials and it is worth stressing that with the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution enacted in 1976 the preamble of the Constitution stressed that India is a sovereign socialist secular democratic Republic. It needs to be emphasised that merely inserting the word secular in the preamble of our Constitution without imbibing its spirit is an exercise in futility. Whether we like it or not when we say that India is secular it clearly and unequivocally implies that religion has no place in the affairs of the state. In other words the state should not be embroiled in religious matters and should stress merely on governance.
However we feel deeply depressed to note that our country is getting unduly entangled in religious issues creating a wave of distrust and anger around. Let me stress on just two issues. We fully support the sentiments of the Hindus that cow is their revered god. But what havoc is unleashed by the ‘gaurakshaks’ in the garb of protecting the cow? How painful it is that innocent people just transporting the cattle are waylaid, harassed and even lynched. And when the issue on the disputed site at Ayodhya is pending in the court, the chorus for the Ram Mandir continues as usual. And all this is done with the connivance of the ruling party.
