Let’s keep religion out of politics
Source: By Arindam Chaudhuri: The Pioneer
The communal violence Bill should be passed at the earliest after removing the clauses on ‘majority’ and ‘minority’ and adding provisions that provide justice to victims, irrespective of their religion, caste, sect and region
There can be no bigger an embarrassment to a secular democracy than a live and much-publicised rip-off of its citizens’ democratic rights on the pretexts of religion, caste, sect and region. The very recent, disturbing incident in Muzaffarnagar, in Uttar Pradesh, is one such crying instance. The communal riot in Muzaffarnagar — in the backdrop of a weak economy — not only adds to the woes of the economy but also forces both internal and external minds to perceive our nation as a ‘failed state’.
As is easily understood, the impact of the flare-up is not confined to the western Uttar Pradesh district that is home to over 41 lakh individuals from many religions and castes (and has a literary rate of under 60 per cent as per the 2011 Census). The violence in Muzaffarnagar has impacted thoughts and processes in other locations like Baghpat, Unnao, Bulandshahr, Bahraich, Bijnor, and other towns in the vicinity of the district. One can almost sense that some of these poisoned minds are working tirelessly to steadily disturb social stability in the entire nation.
What is worse is that such a fomented communal unrest as this, only ends up lending the upper hand to anti-social elements. That eventually creates a rift between various social groups in many belts across the nation. And what we could — and would — witness is many-a-magnified repeats of the ‘blood and fire drama’ that unfolded in Muzaffarnagar this September. What’s the panacea to eradicate this social plague? A re-drafted and powerful Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill.
Without any iota of doubt, we immediately need to re-work and clear the Bill. But what should rightfully precede — in terms of importance or value — the passage of the new Bill is a need to incorporate a few fundamental changes in our political system.
Violence pitting one community against another has been an indisputably striking feature of Indian politics since we really severed all ties with Pakistan 66 years back. It’s been religion. And it’s been caste. Look at communal riots that have put this nation to shame in the past six-plus decades. Almost all of them bear this one peculiar characteristic: That fanning such disturbing fires have often benefitted political parties — those that claim to play the messiah to certain religious or caste groups that become their vote-banks during elections. Either these riots were, are (and will be) politically ignited or were, are (and will be) later used at political forums.
We are one of those few nations where religion and politics work hand in glove. Many nations have adopted policies that separate their organised religious groups from their political systems and at no point do these two groups cross paths. In 1802 that Thomas Jefferson iterated the importance of separation of the Church from the state. In fact, much earlier in The First Amendment to the United States Constitution, was it clarified that, “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”
Along the same lines, even before we pass and convert the communal violence Bill into a law, we need to ensure that other supporting laws are secular and do not favour any particular religion or group per se. The incumbent Government is busy with other Bills for many years now and has paid literally no heed to the communal violence Bill. Seems today, the file has been put on ‘dormant’ mode.
What can be more ironical than our Union Minister for Home Affairs delivering a statement on the decaying conditions of communal harmony of the nation, but not taking any stern step to get the Bill in place? Due to lack of such a Bill, the Union Government and Central authorities are not authorised to take action and interfere in State-related matters even during communal riots. The communal violence Bill would empower the Centre during such disturbing situations and would allow it to help the States keep the fire under check and subsequently douse it.
It would further ensure the inception of a specialised task force called the National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation (by the Centre) that could come into action whenever required. 451 cases of communal violence between January and August, 2013, took place in our country as compared to 410 in the 12 months of last year (as put across by our Home Minister). Aren’t these numbers enough to substantiate the importance of such a Bill most urgently?
At present, the police and Rapid Action Forces are handicapped as they are not permitted to take remedial action during processions and during gatherings where venomous speeches are delivered. Obviously, in its current form, the Bill does provide for special courts (for trails) and empowers the victims while further providing protection to witnesses during the trial period. But the next big issue that makes the Bill flawed is the demarcation line that it draws between the ‘majority’ and ‘minority’.
The Bill silently favours the latter group. Under no circumstance should a secular country have special laws for a particular religion or a separate trial system for a religious group. The provisions of the communal violence Bill should apply to the Hindu and Muslim victims alike. Differentiated provisions and laws based on religion or caste or any such element, are in themselves non-secular and communal and only encourage anti-social elements to customise it politically and take undue advantage.
Where do we begin? Separate religion from legislation and make sure that laws that differentiate individuals on the ground of religion (especially for crime) and caste are not allowed to breathe the Indian air. The Bill, then, should be passed immediately after removing the clauses of majority and minority and adding clauses that provide for excellent provisions to all victims irrespective of their religion, caste, sect and region.
Courtesy: http://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/today-s-editorial/9168-15-sept-2013.html
INFOLINE 