Some time back, I got a forwarded email titled, “TO ALL THE SECULAR BARKING DOGS”. (The full text of this email is reproduced at the bottom of this blog). I carefully read through the 23 points listed in this.

I found that each of the 23 "gripes" listed in the forwarded mail is really a non-issue that should normally not be of any concern to the Hindus, or to any other section of the people of India .

The basic premise seems to be that there exists fundamental difference of interests (on bread and butter issues) between Muslims, Hindus, Christians and other religious groups within our country. I feel this is a flawed perspective.

Yes, group identities do exist. It is also true that many countries do offer certain special facilities, specifically meant to benefit the religious or other sensitivity of particular minority or ethnic groups.

Many governments in Europe allow Muslims and Sikhs to wear scarves or head gear; Indian Army units allow Sikhs (or Hindu pilgrims to Sabarimala) to grow beards etc. In India this also includes Haj subsidy, government making extensive arrangements for the convenience of pilgrims to Amarnath, Vaishnodevi, Sabarimala etc., ban on cow slaughter by many states, separate personal laws for all communities, including for Hindus etc. etc. (Incidentally, Akbar had banned cow slaughter on Hindu festival days, in deference to religious sentiments).

Yes, if we consider that "secularism" must mean that religion should not at all be involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country, this would imply that all the above policies by governments (including Akbar's banning of cow slaughter) are "non-secular". And that would be fine, for a non-religious person like me.

But I think it is a bit mean on the part those from one religion to resent the facilities given to some other religious groups by the government, though this materially affects them only in a marginal or insignificant sense. (Except in the case of the blanket ban on cow slaughter, no facility intended to pander to the sensitivity of one group affects the material welfare of other groups in a significant way -- in India )

I also think it is terribly mean for some members of the "majority community" to violently object to "special facilities" offered to minority groups. (I am unaware if some among Muslims and Christians object to the many special facilities for Hindus in India ! Probably they don't dare to articulate their cribs, being minorities)

This is the reason why I do oppose the agenda of the BJP and the RSS. And why I oppose their politically rightwing equivalents in Pakistan , UK , US, France , Germany, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries.

I would personally love it if we all our laws are “secular” -- but such a code will not allow ban on cow slaughter, government holidays on days of significance to any of the religions, breaking of coconuts to inaugurate government buildings, pooja at government offices etc.

But I do know, that unlike me, most people -- including the Hindus -- are religious. And I do not resent facilities by the government to cater to religious sensitivities -- whether of the "majority" or the "minority", provided these do not impinge on the rights and freedoms of others. No, I do not see this as a "minority-majority" issue at all. I see this as a diversion to take people away from real issues of livelihood.

[I have allowed my driver to do "ayudha pooja" on my car, though this is “non-secular”. It is simply that I respect his sentiments -- irrational as I may regard this to be. I even pay for this pooja!]

Anand

TO ALL THE SECULAR BARKING DOGS


PLEASE READ PATIENTLY , VERY GOOD INFO

please forward it, to as many Hindus - Indians as possible
Please read this entire article, before you delete it.
Are you a Secularist? Then please answer these questions,

1. There are nearly 52 Muslim countries. Show one Muslim country which provides Haj subsidy.

2. Show one Muslim country where Hindus are extended the special
rights that Muslims are accorded in india ?


3. Show one Muslim country which has a Non-Muslim as its President or
Prime Minister.


4. Show one country where the 85% majority craves for the indulgence
of the 15% minority.


5. Shoe one Mullah or Maulvi who has declared a 'fatwa' against
terrorists.

6. Hindu-majority Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala, Pondicherry, etc. have
in the past elected Muslims as CMs; Can you ever imagine a Hindu
becoming the CM of Muslim - majority J&K?


7. Today Hindus are 85%. If Hindus are intolerant, how come Masjids
and Madrassas are thriving? How come Muslims are offering Namaz
on the road? How come Muslims are proclaiming 5 times a day on loudspeakers that there is no God except Allah?


8. When Hindus gave to Muslims 30% of Bharat for a song, why should Hindus now beg for their sacred places at Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi?


9. Why temple funds are spent for the welfare of Muslims and Christians, when they are free to spend their money in any way they like?


10. When uniform is made compulsory for school children, why there is no Uniform Civil Code for citizens?


11. In what way, J&K is different from Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu or Uttar Pradesh, to have article 370?

12. Why Gandhiji supported Khilafat Movement (nothing to do with our freedom movement) and what in turn he got?


13. Why Gandhiji objected to the decision of the cabinet and insisted that Somnath Temple should be reconstructed out of public fund, not government funds. When in January 1948 he presurrised Nehru and Patel to carry on renovation of the mosques of Delhi at government expenses?

14. If Muslims & Christians are minorities in Maharashtra , UP, Bihar etc., are Hindus not minorities in J&K, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya etc? Why are Hindus denied minority rights in these states?


15. Do you admit that Hindus do have problems that need to be recognized. Or do you think that those who call themselves Hindus are themselves the problem?


16. Why post-Godhra is blown out of proportion, when no-one talks of the ethnic cleansing of 4 lakh Hindus from Kashmir ?


17. In 1947, when India was partitioned, the Hindu population in pakistan was about 24%. Today it is not even 1%. In 1947, the Hindu population in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh ) was 30%. Today it is about 7%. What happened to the missing Hindus? Do Hindus have human rights?


18. In contrast, in India , Muslim population has gone up from 10.4% in 1951 to about 14% today; whereas Hindu population has come down from 87.2% in 1951 to 85% in 1991. Do you still think that Hindus are fundamentalists?


19. Do you consider that - Sanskrit is communal and Urdu is secular,
Mandir is Communal and Masjid is Secular, Sadhu is Communal and
Imam is Secular, BJP is communal and Muslim league is Secular, Dr. Praveen Bhai Togadia is ANTI-NATIONAL and Bhukari is Secular, Vande Matharam is communal and Allah-O-Akbar is secular, Shriman is communal and Mian is secular, Hinduism is Communal and Islam is Secular, Hindutva is communal and Jihadism is secular, and at last, Bharat is communal and Italy is Secular?


20. When Christian and Muslim schools can teach Bible and Quran, Why Hindus cannot teach Gita or Ramayan?


21. Abdul Rehman Antuley was made a trustee of the famous Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai Can a Hindu - say Mulayam or
Laloo ever become a trustee of a Masjid or Madrassa?


22. Dr. Praveenbhai Togadia has been arrested many times on flimsy grounds. has the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi , Ahmed Bhukari been
arrested for claiming to be an ISI agent an d advocating partition of
Bharat?

23. When Haj pilgrims are given subsidy, why Hindu pilgrims to Amarnath, Sabarimalai & Kailash Mansarovar are taxed?

A Muslim President, A Hindu Prime Minister and a Christian Defence Minister running the affairs of the nation with a unity of purpose.

Can this happen anywhere, except in a HINDU NATION - BHARAT ?

Later on please forward it to as many Hindus - Indians as possible

Vandhe Matharam

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