Editor,
The Constitution of India opens with a preamble which declares India to be a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic. Further Article 25-28 of the Indian Constitution guarantees to each and every person the right to worship and profess any religion he so desires. However, since the spectacular victory of the BJP under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha election 2014, the nation witnessed communal disharmony in different parts of the country especially in the BJP ruled states. Since the beginning of the Modi govt. there is increase in the attacks on the minority communities. Christian churches are being destroyed and vandalized at different places. The RSS and the VHP known to be linked to BJP started the GHAR WAPSI project with an aim to re-convert people into Hindu religion. There were even news reports that the conversions were made in lieu of money.
Since the last few months we have heard many statements made by the RSS, VHP and even the BJP leaders against Christianity. It only gives an impression that the BJP’s victory has encouraged and made them fearless. The most irresponsible and barbaric statements were made by the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat against Mother Teresa. Without fear I can say that this particular RSS chief can never do what Mother Teresa did for the poor and the needy. Then BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi and the Shiv Sena support his statements and claimed that Mother Teresa’s sole motive for serving the poor was to convert people into Christianity, which clearly reflects that the BJP is against Christianity. I wish these people read about Mother Teresa. The VHP even defended and supported the destruction of a church in Haryana.
During the UPA regime such incidents never happened and minority communities felt secure and protected. Now the opposite is happening. Recently President Obama had said that religious intolerance in India is on the rise and even Gandhi would be shocked to witness the present situation. He said India can develop only if it accepts all religions as equal. Such activities of some people make the minorities feel threatened. The NDA govt. seems to promote the Hindutva agenda rather than their claim for national development. The ban on cow slaughter in some BJP ruled states is one of such instances. The desire of the NDA allies-Shiv Sena to delete the word SECULAR from the Preamble of our Constitution, the wish of the Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj to declare BHAGWAD GITA as the national book and the unsurprising statement of our Home Minister Rajnath Singh, that this Government would try its level best to ban cow slaughter countrywide and that cow slaughter cannot be accepted in a gathering of Hindu priests all point towards a Hindutva agenda. I would like to tell this people “give a thought to the minority community and don’t differentiate the people by their religion”. Cow is not an endangered animal or species, then what is the logic behind banning it? If it is because we get many food items from it, then what do we get from cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol!! Why not ban them too? Every religion has its own principles and rules of conduct, and therefore one religion should not impose its principles upon another religion.
Although the PM and the PMO have issued statement that attacks on minorities cannot be accepted and will be strictly punished, this remains only a statement not backed by any actions. Many Hindu leaders have said that the Christians especially the missionaries are spreading lies and cheat the people and bribe them into conversion. I would like to challenge this so called Hindu religious leader, Can they do even 30% of what the Catholic Church has done for the country? Watch the movie ‘PK’ and ‘Oh My God’, for the truth. I would like to tell these people, Christians missionaries plays a very big and significant role in the development of the country. They provide different services to the people of the country irrespective of their religion through the different institutions like schools, colleges, hospital, old age home and many others. The more significant services they offer are to the disabled people, to leprosy patients etc., Let them visit such centers and ask a Hindu boy or girl, how Christians are treating them. Contrary to this, I was in Guwahati Railway station last month, I saw a man dressed as a Hindu priest carrying with him some religious stuff and collecting or extorting money if I can say from the passengers and he wouldn’t leave until he got at least Rs.10 from the passenger.
Every religion is great and good. No religion is above another religion. As Obama said India can grow and develop only if it rises above religious intolerance. It is Secularism that makes our country united and strong; therefore don’t divide our country on religious lines. We are living in the 21st century and are educated and have choices. Others should not dictate us in the name of religion. Conversion is not a crime but to convert in lieu of money or by force is a moral and also a legal wrong. I have great respect for all religions including Hinduism but no religious teaching promotes violence. Lastly, I would like to appeal to the Government of India and the great Hindu religious leaders to be tolerant as this in the best interests of all.
Yours etc.,
Kynjaimon Amse,
Jaintia Hills