TCN News,
Patna: Amidst the growing voices of communalism in the country an exceptional National level convention under the heading of ‘Secular Conference 2014’ is going to be held in Patna on 26th October 2014 where many speakers from all over the country are expected to participate. The conference will result in the establishment of a National Political Alliance of secularists against the Communal and Fascist forces in the country.
The conference aims to highlight the voices of the many persecuted, address the challenges faced by activists, elaborate on the links between equality, democratic politics and secularism, promote secular and rights-based alternatives to the Communal forces, establish priorities for regional and states collective action and influence policy and practice locally, nationally.
The speakers from J&K, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, MP, UP, Bihar, WB, Assam, Orissa, Jharkhand, AP, Telangana, Kerala, TN, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have already provided their consent for the conference.
Various categories of people are expected to attend the conference including social activists, journalists, professors and members of NGOs.
Conference is anticipated to reflect on the struggle for secularism in both regional and thematic ways and discussions on specific forms that attack on secularism – and on secularists themselves – taken from various parts of the India. It will give chance to the speakers to elaborate how these attacks are linked to the rise of Communal forces in India.
The invitation of the conference explains the need of such conference and further implementation in the regard of fostering and maintaining secularism in the country amidst the increasing polarization and communalism in the country.
The invitation of the conference reads, “The rise of the Communal and Fascist elements, including but not limited to Hindutva, and their efforts to gain political power and to control the state apparatus & public institutions has meant that organized religions’ role vis-a-vis the state as well as secularism and the complete separation of religion from the state have become critical political and civil rights matter”.
“At this unprecedented conference, prominent women and men on the frontlines of defending secularism, including those of faith and none, will come together to discuss the religious-Right, its attacks on civil rights and freedoms, and the role of secularism for 21st century humanity.”