Secular syndrome

As per the Oxford English Dictionary “secular” means “not related to (any) religion.” Hence, one can deduce that India is not a secular nation. There are different laws for different communities, castes and creeds here, unlike the Gulf and Pakistan where the laws are no different for the minorities than the Muslim majority. Indira Gandhi is responsible for this anomaly in our Constitution. Those crying themselves hoarse about “intolerance” should remember the dark days of the Emergency. At present there is still the freedom to dissent. Let’s be tolerant of, and thankful for, that right.

Hansraj Bhat

Mumbai

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