Is India Secular?

If you read international media or hear the opposition parties in India, they will tell you that India under PM Narendra Modi is not secular. India is lead by ‘Hindu Fundamentalist’. I am an Indian Hindu who does not go to temple often. But am I secular? If I celebrate inauguration of Ram Temple at Ayodhya – am I being non-secular? What do we mean by secular?

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Cambridge dictionary

SECULAR MEANS: ‘not having any?connection?with?religion’

I also checked the meaning of Secular State on internet. It says: A secular state is?one that does not consider anyone's religion as an official religion. A secular state also treats all its citizens equally, regardless of religion.

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Does Indian constitution say India is a secular state?

According to the preamble, the constitution of India has been pursuance of the solemn resolution of the people of India to constitute India into a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic',

The words 'socialist' and 'secular' were incorporated in the Preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976. The change was enacted during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the period of Emergency (1975-1977). (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty-second_Amendment_of_the_Constitution_of_India)

The original Constitution mentioned: "sovereign democratic republic". Secular was not mentioned there. Even the forefather of Indian constitution which included father of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Father of the nation, Shri Mahatma Gandhi did not wanted nation to be secular.

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Was the word “SECULAR” added to preamble of the constitution legally?

1.?????? If the original creators of Indian constitution have not envisioned India as SECULAR, why was it changed?

2.?????? ?If any government in power can tinker with constitution, then can the current so called ‘Hindu fundamentalist’ government with majority in both house of parliament has a right to change the constitution back to original form without the word ‘SECULAR’?

3.?????? Prime Minister Indira Gandhi changed the constitution during the period of emergency, which was implemented after Allahabad High Court has ruled against her election and barred her from holding any post. Was this change in constitution ratified by the parliament after emergency was over? In a democratic country like India is it allowed to change the constitution without parliament approval? Please note – the constitution consistently mentions the word ‘Democratic’.

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Why was SECULAR not mentioned in original constitution?

Was it a slip of mind on the part of our founding fathers which Indira Gandhi corrected? As we all are aware India got Independence in 1947 from the Britishers. At the time of independence Muslims demanded a separate country in form of Pakistan. Which means India was divided in 2 parts – one part to people practicing all religion other than Islam while the other part goes to Muslims.

It’s like division of property in a family. One brother (Muslim) decided to break away from the family and took his share when he went out. Now the rest belongs to all religions other than Islam as Muslims has already taken their share. Is it fair for kids of Muslims to ask for equal rights in India again?

If your brother has left the family with his share and later wants equal share in the remaining, will you be fine with it. Yes, for brotherly love you might be fine with it but can he ask for it as his right?

This is why intentionally the founding father of India never added the word ‘Secular’ in our constitution.

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Is Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) ultravirus (beyond the powers) of our parliament because it goes against the word ‘Secular’ in the constitution?

CAA gives a concession to non-Muslims non-Indians living in neighboring countries to apply and get Indian citizenship in expedited manner

1.?????? It does not discriminate against Indian Muslims. None of the rights of Indian Muslims is affected by this law. The law is only about giving citizenship to non-Indians.

2.?????? It does not discriminate. It gives preference to non-Muslims over Muslims living in neighboring countries. As a set practice we regularly give preference to lower caste, females, poor and other sections of the society.

3.?????? The objective is to give Asylum to non-Muslims who are being discriminated against in neighboring countries on religious grounds. It would have been better if the government has clearly stated that “Hindus and other non-Muslims who originate from undivided India and facing religious prosecution in fundamentalist Muslim nations like Pakistan”. However, they avoided naming Pakistan to be politically correct.

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Is bringing down Babri Masjid to build Ram temple against Secularism?

Hindus argue:

1.?????? It is the birth place of Lord Ram

2.?????? Temple existed there before Muslim Invaders like Babar destroyed the temple and build a Masjid instead. Hence Mandir should be restored

3.?????? Political parties are appeasing Muslims for their vote

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Muslim argue:

1.?????? There is no proof that temple was destroyed to build a masjid there

2.?????? The place of worship Act 1992 prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947

3. India is not being secular as they are favoring Hindu's over Muslims

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My argument:

1.?????? It has been proved in Supreme Court with the help of archaeological evidence that Babri masjid was built by destroying a temple which existed at that place

2.?????? Places of worship Act 1992 was a retrospective amendment in a matter which was already under dispute. It’s like – I and my brother are having a property dispute over a property which is now under his control but as per my father’s will belongs to me. When I go to court, my brother bribes the politician of the day to change law retrospectively saying ownership would be decided based on control on the date of change of law. I doubt such retrospective change is law can stand in court.

3.?????? Anyway, Supreme Court has already given the decision. If you disagree even with Supreme Court decision then where is the scope for logical argument?

But now let’s go to a more fundamental question.

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Can secularism coexist with Islam and Christianity?

The Bible emphatically declares that there is one, and only one, God. Not “gods”—plural. God. It doesn't get any clearer than what is written in Deuteronomy 6:4, which says “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” But that's not the only time the Bible reveals this truth. (Source: gospelproject.lifeway.com)

Similarly in Islam:

The most fundamental teaching of Islam is to believe in the Oneness of God, in the sense of His being the only Creator, Preserver, Nourisher, etc. But this belief is not enough. Many of the idolaters knew and believed that only the Supreme God could do all this and yet they associated other gods with Him. Therefore, one must acknowledge the fact that it is God?alone?who deserves to be worshipped, and thus abstain from worshipping any other thing or being. Likewise, Muslims believe that God has no father or mother, no son or daughter. None is equal to Him. He is God of all humankind, not of a special tribe or race. (Source: https://www.whyislam.org/belief-in-one-god/)

Both Christianity and Islam preaches that there is only one God and anybody who is worshipping somebody else is at fault and need to be corrected. This is the root cause of forced conversions.

On the other hand, Hinduism is VERY SECULAR. As per Rig Veda: ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??????! Ekam sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti. Meaning:- Truth is one, the wise perceive it differently” or God is one, the enlightened or the wise, call him by different names or perceive him differently. Hinduism is open to people taking different path to reach the God or worship god is different forms. It does not limit you to worship only one God or restrict you from worshipping any other God. Hinduism has many different gods and we Hindus do not fight among ourselves for the choice of our god unlike Muslims and Christians. Hinduism never forces you to worship any specific God. Islam and Christianity preaches that there is only one God, their God, and their followers should 'correct' anybody worshiping any other God. Denying the right to worship any other God is against the basic concept of Secularism.

Islam goes a step further and is against any idol worship. Islam preaches to destroy idols and that’s why Muslim invaders after plundering temples used to destroy them. Same happened with the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, reminds us of the falsity of all alleged gods. To the worshippers of man-made objects, it asks:?‘How can you worship things you carve with your own hands, when it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?’?(37:95-96) (Source: https://www.whyislam.org/belief-in-one-god/)

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There is enough evidence across the world that:

1.?????? Christianity and Islam believe in only one God – their own God. They believe anybody worshipping any other God need to be corrected. This leads to forced conversion by the followers of these religions

2.?????? Islam is against Idol worship and hence whenever Islam comes to power in any place, they destroy idols of other religion. For example, when Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, they destroyed idols of Gautam Buddha. Islam’s origin itself is linked with revolt against idol worship.

Conclusion:

1.?????? Islam, Christianity and secularism cannot coexist due to ‘One God’ mindset

2.?????? India has gone through religion-based partition and hence it does not make logical sense to be 'secular'

3.?????? Secular word was added in the constitution without proper democratic process

4.?????? Both construction of Ram Temple and CAA are done with proper legal and democratic process and opposing the same using the ‘secular’ argument is very undemocratic