[Assam] Assam also must not allow religion to enter politics. A Sovereign Independent Assam need not have a State religion. If unavoidable, should allow religion to be practiced only in the privacy of the citizens’ own home and places of worship discreetly.

[Bartta Bistar]

Secular India should legislate to stop politics entering religion.



Tuesday July 10 2007 16:43:08 PM BDT

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2007-07-10&hidType=OPT&hidRecord=0000000000000000165355


 <jain.hemraj at gmail.com>

Hem Raj Jain, India <jain.hemraj at gmail.com>



Ref:- Present laws for stopping religion entering politics are not enough

The following two events on July, 8-9 cause great concern that warrants
immediate legislation by India during coming monsoon session of Parliament
to ensure that politics does not enter religion:-

(i)-Media reported that jehadi CDs & incriminating hard disc were found by
Bangalore Police from the house of Kafeel & Sabeel , the alleged accused of
Glasgow terror blast.

(ii)- On Sunday, instigated by so called Hukmnama from Akal Takht hundreds
of youth wing of Akalis, after giving one day notice to police, attacked
hundreds of Dera followers who were attending their religious function at
Firozpur, Punjab hence hundreds of Punjab police personnel had to intervene
in order to prevent injuries from rising.

Constitutionally secular India has reasonably ensured (through various
legislation and Election Commission of India) that religion does not enter
politics but India has not taken any precaution that politics does not enter
religion with the result:-

(A)- Quite a number of Masjids (Mosques) are used by their Imams to deliver
instigating / inflammatory speeches etc. after Friday Namaz on topics not
only related to Indian politics but also on international political issues
connected with USA / UK in the back drop of Afghanistan-Iraq war, Cartoon
controversy etc. Also instigating / inflammatory speeches etc. are given at
their other religious places / functions/ gatherings by religious heads (or
body of such persons).

[To what extent such speeches of Imams etc. and subsequent related
discussions by Namazees etc. over there have contributed, not only in jihadi
indoctrination of likes of Kafeel etc. but also in the misuse of religious
places, including Madarssas etc. during past for Islamic terrorist
activities in J&K and other parts of India, is any body's guess and have
been widely reported in media, displayed on Internet and discussed in
Parliament].

(B)- Leaving aside events of eighties (which resulted in operation Blue
Star, assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and terrorism in
Punjab) the way Gurudwaras and their other religious places are being
misused by allowing politics to enter religion by Sikhs(Akalis) in Punjab in
the matter of Sikh - Dera controversy, then if proposed legislation is not
enacted, the worst in this controversy is not yet over.

Therefore, it is highly desirable, in the interest of global war against
terrorism, in the interest of people of Indian origin residing in foreign
countries and in the wider interest of human rights in India, that a
legislation is passed in the coming monsoon session of Parliament in a
manner that:-

(1)- Law be made declaring as an offence - any attempt by religious head (or
a body of such persons) to make instigating/inflammatory speeches etc. by
making politics enter religion at religious places / functions/ gatherings.

(2)- Instituting a statutory authority who will ensure that no religious
head (or a body of such persons) will deliver a politically instigating /
inflammatory speech etc. at at religious places / functions/ gatherings
(whether publicised through print & electronic media or not).

[This law will enable those followers (of any religion who do not approve
instigating/inflammatory activities of their religious heads or a body of
such persons, but are shy/afraid of opposing/resisting such activities on
their own) to complain and get redress through this statutory authority].

(3)- In case of violation of this law (apart from prosecution for this
offence) this statutory authority will be authorised to take appropriate
measures so that the offending religious head (or a body of such persons)
will not be in a position to violate this law any more.

Above mentioned laws will also take care of any likely misuse of religious
place / functions/ gatherings by any Hindu religious leader (or a body of
such persons) in case he/she misuses it by instigating/inflammatory speeches
etc by making the entry of politics in religion of Hindus for example in a
matter which has already seen Babri Masjid demolition and its attended riots
in which apart from some innocent Hindus thousands of innocent Muslims have
lost their lives including in 2002 Gujarat pogrom.

Yours truly
Hem Raj Jain
India
E Mail : jain.hemraj at gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.assamnet.org/pipermail/assam-assamnet.org/attachments/20070710/72ed403d/attachment.htm>