Hindu Rashtra: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen attacked the BJP leadership on Wednesday, saying that the results of the most recent Lok Sabha election show India is a secular country with a secular Constitution.
It is necessary to be “politically open-minded,” he says.
“I don’t think it’s right to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra.The election results have demonstrated that India is more than just a “Hindu Rashtra,” Sen told the reporters, as cited by news agency PTI.
STORY | Lok Sabha poll results show India not ‘Hindu Rashtra’: Amartya Sen
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— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 26, 2024
With 240 seats won in the recently held general elections, the BJP became the single largest party. Nonetheless, it failed to secure the simple majority threshold of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. As a result, the BJP started to rely on its partners, the TDP of N Chandrababu Naidu and the JD(U) of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, to form the government at the federal level. The INDIA group of the opposition got 234 seats, while the Congress secured 99 seats.
Amartya Sen on the BJP losing the Faizabad seat of Ayodhya:
The Nobel laureate claimed that despite erecting the Ram Temple, the BJP lost the Ayodhya seat in Faizabad because efforts were made to obscure the nation’s actual identity.
In the nation of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, building the Ram Temple at such great financial expense is an attempt to present India as a “Hindu Rashtra,” something that should never have happened. It needs to alter because it appears to be an attempt to ignore India’s actual identity, he said.
Hosabale, RSS Leader: However, Mr. Hosabale, the leader of the Rashtra Sena, claims that India has always been and always will be a Hindu Rashtra. According to him, the nation will always be Hindu as long as there are Hindus living there.
Current Debates: The agenda put forth by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tends toward a “Hindu Rashtra.”
Opponents contend that this initiative marginalizes religious minorities and subverts the secular values guaranteed in the Constitution.
The argument revolves around whether India should embrace its rich cultural diversity or give priority to a politically imposed, top-down Hindutva.
Declaring India a “Hindu Rashtra” has complicated and multifaceted legal ramifications:
Constitutional Framework: India is a secular republic according to the 1950 Constitution, which was ratified. Secular refers to the state’s guarantee of religious freedom for all its residents and its lack of preference for any one religion over another.
Difficulties for Secularism: It would be against the secular values outlined in the Constitution to declare India a “Hindu Rashtra.”
Opponents claim that it might violate the rights of religious minorities and marginalize groups including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and others.
Legal Battles: There would probably be legal obstacles to any move to formally designate India as a “Hindu Rashtra.”
The constitutional provisions would have to be interpreted by courts and weighed against the proposed modification.
Political and societal Repercussions: A statement of this nature might have an effect on political dynamics, interfaith relations, and societal harmony.
It could have an impact on diplomatic connections, trade, and relations with nations that respect secularism.
Historical Context: Religious pluralism, cohabitation, and syncretism have a long history in India. Any departure from this tradition would be noteworthy.