Indian Secularism under threat

Indian Secularism under threat


First it was in Orissa in 1967, followed by Madhya Pradesh in 1963, Tamil Nadu in 2002, Gujarat in 2003, Chattisgargh in 2005, and Rajasthan in 2006 – all these States have enacted anti-conversion law and are in full force. They commonly share characteristic of fanning communal tension in the line of religion. They are notorious for infamous religious riots that have claimed many innocent lives. It is hard to forget Orissa’s crime on Christians in the past years and yet again the same fang of venomous hatred on Christians has struck again creating pogrom.

Far from being contained and arrested the virus of communalism in India – one of the disintegrating elements that would fragment Indian nation prophesized by the prophets of doom – has continued and is back with even more vigorous attack on the religious minorities, particularly Christians, threatening secularism in India . In this trend of rising tide of communalism wave the principal element of liberal democratic vision of secularism uphold by the founding fathers is being obscured and seems losing ground to the obscurantist. This seriously poses a question on our professed secular foundation of the constitution as Indian nation opted for a secular State and not for a ‘Hindu’ Theocracy since partition. Today Indian secularism is under threat and the religious minorities are being pushed to the wall.

The founding fathers of the Indian Republic are all believers in free air. They carefully promoted and nurtured national integration through consistent ideological and political endevours by adopting liberal views of nationalism in the making of free-modern India . Mahatma Gandhi, in his preparation for country wide movement of non-cooperation in 1920, call for unity and asked all “patriots to overcome the barriers that divide them from one another”. Fully aware of the communal divide among Indians he warned the danger of it at the Nagpur Congress (1920), “an Empire which has set the Hindus and the Muslims against each other will not hesitate to create enmity between the Antyayas (untouchables) and the rest of the Hindus”. Rabindranath Tagore, a nobel laureate, in his fight for freedom from foreign rule also call for harmony between the Hindus and Muslims, and eradication of untouchability. He exhorted for liberal view in the making of Indian nation. B.R. Ambedkar in his address at the constituent Assembly of India in November 25, 1949 warned that Indians must never be content with what he called “mere political democracy” and said “in politics we will have equality and in socio-economic life we will have inequality”. Denial of this he warned, “will put our political democracy in peril”.

After the first general election mandated by the constitution, Jawaharlal Nehru, acting both as prime minister and as the leader of the Congress waged an all-out war against communalism and pointed out several times, “if allowed free play, communalism would break up India ”. He identified communalists as the chief enemies and made this ringing declaration, “if any person raises his hand to strike down another on the ground of religion, I shall fight him till the last breath of my life, both at the head of the government and from outside”.

To go by the liberal views of the founding fathers and constitutionally speaking the secular credo embedded in the constitution guarantees the citizens the right to freedom of religion and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs, and that of the State to pay equal respect to all religions. In true sense secularism separates religion from politics and especially religion from the State. It virtually relegates religion to the realm of the private and respect for all religions.

But this is not what Indian secularism in reality is today as we see the religious minorities are being oppressed by the dominant group – the Hindus. It is a pseudo-secularism we see in practice in India as indicated by the free play of communalism in those States where anti-conversion law has been enacted. It proves that religion is not a private realm but a State controlled policy. Secularism crisis in these States lays in the tension between the conception of the State as an agent of socio-religious reforms and that of the minority rights. The free play of communalism perpetrated by the Hindu communal force against Christian minority in Orissa is un-secular.

Since the communalization of Indian politics the minority religious groups have been the end recipient of the more expression of violence unleashed by the Hindu militants. In all communal riots it is the lowest section of the poor who suffers the most as they become the soft target. They suffer economically from the negligence of the State in its socio-economic welfare programme, and vulnerable to the oppression and violence perpetrated by the majority group buttress by the State policy for vested political mileage.

For instance, communal riots in Mumbai, demolition of Babri Mosque, Gujarat pogrom, and recent hatred against Christians in Orissa unleashing extreme religious intolerance in killing, burning of bibles and destroying churches and sacred antics are stark free-play of communalism in India . Religion intolerance such as these in a professed secular nation-State is horrifying and what is more disturbing and diabolic is the hate ideology ardently espoused and fanned by certain political partyedausing worst humanitarian crime in the name of religion.
The Hindu communal forces like the VHP and Bajrang Dal are a threat to religious minorities. These forces – right wing of the RSS – have fascist agenda of massive propagandistic influence of promoting Ram as a national hero. Since inception they have throughout attempted to destroy all living folk culture and homogenize Hinduism around Ram cult. What is most fearful in the agenda of the Hindu communal forces is that it claims to represent the entire Hindu space eclipsing all other religious minorities.

Communalism was and continues to be a major threat to Indian unity. The principle of secularism, well thought over and nurtured by the founding fathers, keeping in mind the existence of plural religions in Indian nation is under threat today. Down the past years there have been deep wounds caused by the religious riots and these religious intolerances have sullied international image of Indian democracy.
India adopted democratic form of government which suited best to her nature of pluralism in caste, creed, and religion. But the ugly head of communalism is still rising. The recent case in Orissa where many Christians were killed proves that Indian nation has lost her secular credentials.

ABVP's link to terrorism in India

While the Hindu right wing groups have been training terrorists under the pretext of National volunteers, the whole nation was a silent spectator. Now the truth is finally out.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Mumbai police have arrested the culprits behind the blast. They are members of Hindu right wing groups - ABVP, Bajrang Dal, VHP and BJP. Upadhyay and Kulkarni are suspected to have trained the people who planted low-intensity bombs in Malegaon on the night of September 29.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Mumbai police will produce Upadhyay and Kulkarni who trained the people who planted low-intensity bombs in Malegaon on the night of September 29. PTI reports that Kulkarni is a former member of the BJP's student front Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Sadhvi Chetanand a former office bearer of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Durga Vahini, Lal and Singh who are affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were also arrested in connection with the blasts.

Pragya Singh Thakur, a Hindu woman ascetic and also a former member of the ABVP, has been the most sensational arrest in connection with the blasts till now. At least two other persons were arrested along with Thakur on October 24.

Abhinav Bharat is an obscure organisation and it claims to be "training" Hindus on how to fight terrorists. It was formed in 2006 and on in its website claims it aims to combat terrorism and rebuilding the nation around Hindu culture.

CNN IBN reports that Bhonsale Military School in Nashik has been willfully allowing the Bajrang Dal to train its cadres in their premises. The faculty were involved training the terrorists in handling weapons and combat artillery.

What a shame to our country. The Military is being used to train terrorists to demolish national Integrity.



What more proof does the nation need to ban these terrorist organizations who have been exterminating minorities. If the government of India does not act now, they will rip the nation apart on all possible lines and destroy all minorities from this country.

Halloween- A pagan festival propagating evil

BJP & its allies responsible for the terror attacks in Malegoan

New Delhi: In an embarrassing development for the Bhartiya Janata Party, pictures of a Sadhvi (Hindu woman ascetic) – arrested for her role in the Malegaon blasts – are doing the rounds in Bhopal and Indore.

The photograph shows the Sadhvi Poornachetanand once known as Pragya Singh Thakur - with BJP leader and party president Rajnath Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The photograph was taken at the condolence meeting of state education minister Laxman Gaur in February 2006, the year that she took sanyas (retreating to ascetic way of life).

Before becoming a Sadhvi, Pragya was an office bearer of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP's student wing, and a member of Durga Vahini, the women's wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

She is believed to be an acquaintance of Indore Mayor Uma Shashi Sharma and another firebrand sanyasi, BJP rebel Uma Bharti.

Pragya's spiritual guru is senior VHP leader Swami Avdheshanangiri.

On Thursday, five people affiliated to the Hindu Jagran Manch – including the Sadhvi - were arrested in Indore and Surat by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad for their alleged involvement in the Malegaon and Modasa bomb blasts

Her links to the motorcycles used in the Malegaon bomb blasts is being probed. The registration and the chassis numbers of the bike were removed with chemicals.

However, investigators have succeeded in retrieving these. Preliminary investigations have revealed that all five suspects played a peripheral role in the blasts of September 29. The Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Mumbai Police on Sunday raided a house used by Pragya in Jabalpur. Police officials are searching for conclusive evidence to prove her alleged involvement in the Malegaon blast.

Sadhvi's father Chandrapal Singh says he is confident that his daughter is not involved in the blast. He also says he won't object if his daughter is punished on being proved guilty.

"If she has committed the crime, then I will not be sad if she is punished," he said.

BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi defended his party saying Pragya was a sadhvi and could have attended a program any function. "The BJP doesn't say Muslim terrorism or any other terrorism. Terrorism has no religion," he said.

Congress MP Rashid Alvi was unimpressed and demanded that the ABVP be banned.

Watch the truth unfold here

Forceful Conversion to Hinduism

VHP International General Secretary Praveen Togadia, who trained to be an oncologist but who likes nothing better than to drive non-Hindus out of India, reached Kandhamal for Saraswati’s last rites (he was buried in a sitting position - the padmasana – in his Chakapada ashram, where he ran a school and hostel for boys). Togadia said a Christian sect had killed Saraswati. It was enough to trigger murderous assaults on Christians in Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa. Hundreds of Christian homes were set ablaze, a few pastors were slain, and warnings were issued asking them to return home as Hindus, or never.

In the jungles off Sankarakhol village, one of the first targeted by the militant Hindus, a group of RSS whole-timers were reconverting 18 Christians to Hinduism. It was a daytime ceremony. RSS Mandal Mukhiya (head of the Mandal unit) Sudhir Pradhan, a slim bearded man, was in charge. There weree 30 Hindus to make sure that the 18 Christians did not change their mind.

Each of the Christians had brought a copy of the Bible in Oriya along. They also brought a coconut each, and some incense sticks, red thread to tie around the wrist, and vermillion for their foreheads. The Christians first burned their Bibles in a small bonfire. They sat in a circle. In the middle were the coconuts, each one signifying a Christian, and the other paraphernalia. The god of the hills was appeased first in a prayer.

Then, a Christian rose. He had a coconut in his hand. “I swear that I have become a Hindu today. After today, if I ever become a Christian again, may my dynasty perish,” he said. He broke the coconut on a stone. The other Christians followed, each one making the same promise. Some murmured, some were loud. A Hindu priest began to apply vermillion on the foreheads of the Christians-turned-Hindus. One of them protested, but it was too late. There was a red streak on his forehead as well.

Sudhir Pradhan then took over. Eyes closed, spine firm, and voice ominous. There was a deep and rhythmic chanting of Om followed by the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred chant of the Hindus. The slogans followed: “Bharat mata ki jai.” “Ganga mata ki jai.” “Gau mata ki jai.” “Sri Ramjanambhoomi ki jai.” They paused for a few moments and the Christians-becoming-Hindus knelt, placing their foreheads on the ground. There was a final “Jai Shri Ram.” The first stage of re-conversion from Christianity to Hinduism was over. The motivation for these Christians to reconvert was life. They wanted to live in Kandhamal, keep their houses and, maybe, get some regular work.

Months afterward, these Christian-turned-Hindus would be asked to attend a yagya - a Hindu ritual of sacrifice that involves the worship of deities, unity and charity. In the yagya, they would wear saffron clothes and a sacred thread, and get their heads shaved. They would offer a few goats and some rice as fee. They would be given Gau Mutra (cow urine) and Tulsi water to drink. They would take Hindu vows. Then, they would share the mutton and rice (cooked from their offerings) in a small feast. This completed their re-conversion. From then on, they would have a Tulsi plant in their homes, have pictures of Hindu gods on their walls, and celebrate Hindu festivals. They would pray only to Hindu gods.

Pradhan was happy. He had done his job for the day. He explained the difference between a Hindu and a Christian. “They (Christians) eat cows. We (Hindus) worship cows.” Therefore, “people who eat cows should be given the same treatment that they give the cows.” Pradhan said.

Togadia had laid down the policy. “He has already announced that there is no place for Christians. If Christians do not become Hindus, they have to go. We do not care where they go. They must leave Orissa,” he said.

Analysis of the present Crisis in India

Christians are accused of ‘converting’ Hindus to Christianity. Thomas the disciple of Jesus brought the gospel to the Indian shores 2000 years ago. Even after 2000 years, the population of Christians in the country is a meagre 2%.

Though the Draconian law of No-Conversion was brought about in several states, there was not one case which was proved. This has infuriated the Sangh Parivar whose ultimate intention is to drive out people of all other faiths from the country. If every country begins to use strong arm tactics to retain people only of a certain faith in their country, then there can be no freedom and no peace. Though Hindus are only a staggering minority in the USA, the government has even started reciting Vedas in the House of Congress. That is the respect other nations give for other faiths.

Why are we alone going behind?
India has always been known for its heritage and unity in diversity, then why are we allowing ourselves to be duped by some evil people.


The Sanghparivar exaggerates the number of Christians in order to drive them away from the State and eventually from the country(This is the hidden agenda of Sanghparivar). Conversion is only a bogey to camouflage their sinister intention of making India a Hindu Nation. Consequently all other minorities should abide by the majority rules, otherwise they are to be ready to leave the country or ready to die. Christians who have witnessed the torture in Kandhamal report that they are given 3 options,

1. leave the country,
2. become a Hindu
3. be killed in their hands

Is this why India got her freedom?
Is this why we speak of Unity in Diversity?


This is just a divisive policy by certain political parties to get majority votes. By creating enemity between people, they can project themselves as the Saviour of the Hindus and thereby win the elections. Narendra Modi experimented this Gujarat and the party has begun to adopt this in all their states. It started with Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Karnataka & now even in Madhya Pradesh.

India cannot be cheated by a group of mongrels. We will not sell our freedom to any evil force. We wil remain united and treat others with dignity. Hindus are our brothers, so are the Muslims, Bhuddists, Sikhs and any other religion.

UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL

Christian Missionaries & Adivasis driven out into the jungles!!!

Over one thousand Christians, including priests, nuns, women and children, have fled to the jungles of Orissa where deadly anti-Christian violence entered its seventh day. In the violence, which broke out, many of the people have been severely injured. Some of the priest and laity have run for shelter, leaving their homes and hiding in the forests in the biting cold. All this has happened in the Adivasi area in and around Phulbani and Kandhamal.

It is no coincident that the BJP is part of the ruling coalition in Orissa, and those involved in the vandalism are part of some or the other organization directly affiliated with the RSS. The major such are Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bajrang dal and their local variants. While the media reports are sketchy, the Citizens Inquiry team, which was to visit the area has been denied permission to visit the districts and was escorted out of the area.



The attacks on minorities and weaker sections is launched for short term or long term political goals, but the care is taken that a pretext is manufactured and then the attacks are unleashed. In this case it has been said that Swami Lakkhanand was attacked by Christians and so the retaliation. One is supposed to believe that a Swami from the majority community, with sizeable following, will be attacked by the section of miniscule minority!



The Christmas season is the chosen time for anti Christian attacks. Earlier also such occasions have been chosen for beating and attacking the Christian community, notably in Dangs in 1998. This time in Phulbani area the declarations being made by the Swami and associates is that the presence of Christians will not be tolerated in the Adivasi areas.

Anti Christian violence is in the continuation of RSS agenda of Hindu Rasthra, Pehle kasai Phir Isai (First the Muslims then Christians). There is an additional factor in the anti Christian violence. One concedes that there may be many a Christian groups who might be focusing on the conversion work, within the bounds of Indian constitution, of course. But one has to note that in India, over all population of Christian minorities is declining over a period of last four decades, ( 1971-2.60 per cent, 1981-2.44 per cent, 1991-2.34per cent, and 2001-2.30 per cent). While Christianity is a very old religion here, during last nineteen centuries or so only 2 odd per cent have become Christians.



The major problem is that the effort of missionaries to reach education to the adivasi areas. Educated Adivasi, empowered Adivasi will be more aware of her rights and that's precisely what RSS combine cannot stand.

That the tiny minority can be a threat to the huge majority of Hindus is quiet a concoction. There is a need to deal these violations of human rights firmly, there is a need to curb the hate other propaganda in these areas and of course the need to promote modern education and other welfare schemes in these areas. Christmas, which should be a festival of joy is being turned into an annual ritual of violence and mayhem by the RSS combine.