Now, BJP plays a secular tune

Now, BJP plays a secular tune

It confuses me when I see mainstream media in India accusing a national party of being communal. No one asks these media outlets about what is the definition of "secularism". If one reads the law properly, no Indian politician is supposed be talking about religion at all. No religious organizations can campaign in the polls. A letter written by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi to Muslim leaders during UP polls soliciting their support is perhaps a non-secular act. In India the government, politicians and the elections are supposed to be "free" from religion because as per the Constitution India is a secular (without religion) state. The way politicians conduct themselves in India is purely non-secular. No government actions can be based on siding with one religion or the other or people belonging to any particular religion. Mr. Sripad Naik is right when he asks religious outlets to stay away from politics. He is right to say - "Not just church, we want that even Hindu institutions should keep away from politics,".

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