Minorities and Secularism
By Dr. Mookhi Amir Ali
In a multireligious state when one major religion chooses not to dominate and impose its own tenets on the others, naturally, the beneficiaries are the religions minorities. Secularism itself is pro-minority. Muslims of India, by virtue of being the largest minority are the biggest beneficiary of the secular nature of the Indian constitution. If Ram Puniyani and other secularists are defending Indian secularism or condemning deviation from the ethics of secularism they are to a great extent pro-Muslim. There is no need for them to argue otherwise, as Ram P. is trying to do.[FPJ20/8/07].
Now, what is troubling the likes of Shreenath Paranjpe is the fact that these secularists are quick to criticize any deviation on part of Hindus, while they look the other way when the state deviates from the ethics of secularism in an effort to please Muslim minority or when the state condones such deviation from the values of secularism on part of Muslims. [Letters, FPJ, 23/9/07]
A Muslim minister in UP, some time back, flouted Indian laws and disregarded Indian constitution in ordering a contract killing of a Danish cartoonist for his certain work which hurt the sentiments of Muslims. Lately three Muslim MLAs of Andhra Pradesh gate-crashed into a gathering at Hyderabad, abused, assaulted and threatened to behead Taslima Nasreen, just because in their opinion she deserved that punishment for her writings against their religion. They showed scant regard for the Indian Penal Code and the secular constitution of India. Not only that. On the bidding of the Muslim MLA, the Andhra police slapped a charge on the lady under section 153-A. One worthy from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in front of the t.v.camera demanded her expulsion from the country. It did not occur to the gentleman that the lady is declared persecuted and is given asylum under our secular laws and she can not be thrown out on the whim of a religious community. These events deserved a much louder outcry than what they reeived from the secular governments and from the secularist NGOs. This is troubling Paranjpes.
Dr.Mookhi Amir Ali,
Sushama, Dadabhai Rd., Santacruz West,
Mumbai 400054 [23/8/07]
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