S E C U L A R M O R C H A
APPEAL TO VOTERS
DEFEAT BJP, DEFEAT COMMUNALISM, SAVE INDIA
As India is inhabited by people belonging to different faiths, caste and creeds, it can progress and prosper only on the basis of secular democracy.
Secularism is one of the basic features of our Constitution which prescribes a mechanism for solving various problems like poverty, unemployment,health, education, housing etc. Such goals enshrined in Indian Constitution can be achieved only if its basic values remain secure. Therefore every political party is required to give an undertaking on oath before its registration with the Election Commission to the effect that it has faith in the basic values of the Constitution i.e. secularism and socialism.
The main question today is : 'Do B.J.P. and its allies believe in the basic values of the Constitution?' The emphatic answer is 'NO'. Therefore they cannot be expected to solve the basic problems of the common people. As such, the undertaking and oath given by the BJP before the Election Commission is only a farce.
The open secret is that BJP and its allied organizations want to convert India into a 'Hindu Rashtra' i.e. an Hindu Empire. In such Hindu Rashtra, only Hindus will enjoy citizens' rights, while other minorities like Muslim, Christians,Sikhs, Parsis, Bodh, Jews etc. will have none. Its administration will function only for Hindus and police will give protection only to them i.e. Hindus. Supreme Court
will also be bound to pronounce judgements only in favour of Hindus vis a vis other communities. The Parliament will be converted into a Dharam Sansad and will legislate only in favour of Hindus. In the ëHindu Rashtraí, it will be legitimate to punish the present generation of Muslims, Christians and other minorities for the so-called crimes ñsupposed or real, committed by their ancestors in the Muslim and British period. Mosques will be systematically demolished and churches will be destroyed. All those who would oppose would be subjected to mass murders, rape and loot. The demolition of Babri Masjid, the brutal murder of Austrailan missionary Graham Stains and his two minor sons, attacks on Churches in Gujrat and Orissa, bloody carnage in Gujrat are living examples of the Hindutva agenda.
The BJP election manifesto may talk of the common problems of the people such as poverty, unemployment, education, electricity, water, and may promise their solutions. But as soon as the BJP comes to power it pushes its promises under the carpet and starts implementing its Hindu agenda by overt or covert means.
When BJP came to power five years back at the Centre, it carried out atomic bomb explosions at Pokharan, though it was not part of its election manifesto.
The ostensible purpose of Pokharan explosion was stated to be to ensure security of India- but in result it enhanced its insecurity. Pakistan soon acquired nuclear weapons. Previously Pakistan did not enjoy superiority in conventional army with India, but now it is equally pitted against it.
Another injurious result of nuclear explosion is that India has to spend huge amount in acquiring and maintaining nuclear weapons, so that it has no money left to reduce poverty and unemployment. The army of unemployed youth is on increase, and in many states, the locals have started detesting the outsiders who are Indians nevertheless. The killings of Beharis in Assam and attacks on non-Maharashtrians in Maharshtra are a disturbing phenomena, which may soon envelope other Indian states if BJPís hawkish polcies are not checked soon. The extent of corruption in the defence and security expenditure is a top secret, and if any citizen raises any question in this regard, he may be dubbed as 'anti-national' and may become victim of prosecution. The violence in various forms is on increase as BJPs Hindutva agenda is incapable of pursuing any socio-economic programme for the upliftman of the common people.
However the saving grace is that majority of Hindus are not supporters of this Hindutva agenda of BJP. Therefore the consistent endeavour of BJP is to utilize the administration for injecting and spreading communal virus in society so that the number of its followers is increased. It has been trying to pervert history to poison minds of young Hindus against the Muslims and Christians. It also starts filling up posts in various departments such as industry, education, police etc. by its own supporters who function with communal outlook and harass minorities.
Another term for BJP anywhere will be highly detrimental to the continuation of secular democracy in India.
Corruption and political opportunism has increased during the rule of BJP led coalition. Its leaders are found most corrupt than others. BJP rule will eventually lead to the destruction of secular democracy and Indian Constitution.
We therefore appeal to voters to defeat BJP in the present elections so that future of India is saved.
V.M.Tarkunde, N.D.Pancholi, Indra Makwana,
Pushkar Raj, Mahipal Singh, Karamvir Shastri
Indian Radical Humanist Association, Lokayan, Forum For Democracy & Communal Amity, Vasudev Kutambkam, Champa- The Amiya & B.G. Rao Foundation, Indian Social Institute, Minorities Council, Manav Foundation.
24.11.2003
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