Ref:- Present laws for stopping religion entering politics are not enough
Dear Sir
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
208, Supriya, Plot #20, Sector – 10, Dwarka,
New Delhi -110075, INDIA .
Ph: – +91 11 32940177, Mob: 09871194983