It is true the Congress has exploited their premier status in politics of the country (party of freedom fighters, tricolour flag, Mahatma Ghandhi's name etc.) to perpetuate their political power. As one-family party post-Independence (except BJP and Communist Party all important parties are only of family parties) the Congress cannot afford to hold national interest above their own personal interest. This misfortune has given rise to a sort of Hindu backlash and RSS has grown as the 'only protector' of the majority population against this vote-bank politics. In fact the party is catering to the Fanatic and fundamentalist elements of the so called Minority Community. The Congress has turned India into a non-secular state with no common civil code and has made the major two religious minorities insecure. Though the present government wants to remain secular by not taking sides with any religious groups, the opposition parties cannot afford to not continue to brand Hindu dispensations as Communal, further increasing the relevance of RSS to the cause of Hindus. Hope it will not take long before equilibrium emerges.
'Minority Rights' meant for Hindus, but hijacked by Muslims!
(Editorial in Hindu Voice, November 2013)
Whenever the word 'minority' is used, the general perception is that it connotes Muslims and Christians. But is it really so? An in-depth analysis of our Constitutional provisions will reveal that it is actually meant for Hindus migrating from one state to another. Read on. The word 'minority' is not defined in our Constitution. However, there are two Articles in our Constitution - Articles 29 & 30 - which mention the word 'minority'. Article 29 is titled 'Protection of interests of minorities'. Here, the word 'minority' does not refer to Muslims or Christians at all. Minoritism is not related to religion, and the framers of our constitution have not given any special privileges for Muslims or Christians (as it will be against the canon of equality). However this article is twisted and tangled by the continuous Congress Govts., as though it is meant for protecting the interests of Muslims and Christians. Now let us see what Article 29 says.
Article 29 of our Constitution titled 'Protection of interests of minorities' says: "Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same". The Article does not talk about 'Muslims' or 'Christians' or religion, but only about 'language, script or culture'.
So, the question of 'religious minority' does not arise at all. "Religious minority" is a creation of the Congress party, distorting our constitution, with vote bank considerations. If at all there is a need for Article 29, it is for Hindus in states like J&K, Nagaland and Mizoram, etc., where the cultural and linguistic identities of people from other states (i.e. Hindus) have to be conserved. But strangely, the people from other states are not treated as cultural or linguistic minorities in these states, and their minority interests are not protected. This is a clear violation of Article 29. Similarly Article 30 titled 'Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions' says: "All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice". This Article DOES talk about all religious as well as linguistic minorities, but to establish educational institutions only. Hence it is quite clear that the word 'minority' mentioned in our Constitution under Article 29 does not mean Muslims and Christians. It talks about cultural
and linguistic minorities and protection of their interests (and NOT the interest of religious minorities as is generally believed). Religion nowhere comes into the picture (except for establishing educational institutions). For example, I hail from Tamil Nadu and am settled in Mumbai for four decades. Hence, according to Article 29, I am a 'minority' in Maharashtra.
It gives me the right to protect and conserve my language, script, dress code, etc. Looking at the diversity of our nation (with different castes, languages, scripts, life styles, etc), the framers of our Constitution have prudently inserted Article 29. Legally speaking, since I am a minority in Maharashtra, under Article 29 of the Constitution, I am entitled to all the benefits that are being wrongly provided to Muslims alone under the various schemes of the UPA Govt. However, the UPA Govt. has twisted the word 'minority' to give it a religious (read communal) colour so as to mean Muslims alone, disregarding the 'language, script and culture' aspects mentioned in Article 29. In fact, the word 'minority' has been hijacked by Muslims, with the connivance of the Congress party, to blackmail (with vote-bank) and derive undue benefits from the Govt.
Therefore, all the special benefits and privileges announced by the UPA Govt. for religious minorities, including the appointment of Sachar Committee, are ultra vires our Constitution. The Constitution does not confer any special rights on the basis of religion. (Hinduism is not a religion - it is a way of life - as per our Supreme Court). Thus, the Minority Affairs Ministry (MAM) of every State Govt. has a duty to protect the interests of the linguistic and cultural minorities in their states, i.e. people who have come from other states and settled in their states. For example, MAM of the Maharashtra Govt. has to protect the interests of Biharis residing in Maharashtra against the onslaught of Raj Thackery. This is exactly what is meant by 'Protection of interests of minorities'. But today the MAM takes care of the interests of only Muslims (and Christians), by wilful and wrong interpretation of our Constitution. The linguistic and cultural minorities (like Biharis and Tamilians in Mumbai or Maharashtrians in Thanjavoor, TN, or Sikhs staying in all states) are left out of the care of the MAM, which is a violation of Article 29. It is Hindus alone who are having different language and script - and NOT Muslims and Christians (global communities with same language, script and culture). Hence, the constitutional rights under Article 29 are available only to Hindus. These constitutional rights meant for Hindus when they go and settle in other states, are stolen and conferred upon Muslims and Christians, when it is not meant for them. It is a fraud on Hindus. The word 'minority' meaning Muslims and Christians is peculiar only for our country. Nowhere in the world, repeat nowhere, have you found this concept of minority-majority. Indians, especially Hindus, have settled down in USA, UK, Australia, etc. Are they treated as minorities in those countries? Do they get any special rights there? They are all citizens of those countries with equal rights and duties. Then why should India be different? India is not different. Our constitution makers have NOT made it different, but our crooked politicians, especially the Dynastic Congressmen, have made it to be so. They have distorted our constitution to suit their vote-bank politics. In fact, the Congress party is perpetrating a fraud on Hindus, by depriving them of their rights and conferring it on Muslims and Christians.
( hari krishnamurthy K. HARIHARAN)"
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