- The entire country is witness to the unfolding scenario vis-à-vis the Hijab controversy originating from Karnataka. The High Court of Karnataka has ruled on the most vexatious issue and the matter will be pursued by the honorable Supreme Court in due course of time. However, the accompanying fallout owing to hugely despicable acts of religious polarization perpetrated by the opposing political parties has only aided in further vitiating the once harmonious environment. The vertical division between the majority and minority community is increasingly becoming obvious what with every other stakeholder out there hellbent on ascertaining supremacy by adopting exclusion methodology. Not good for any society, leave alone the aspirational one like ours.
PC: OpIndia Staff
- It is extremely disconcerting to note the Karnataka government’s inaction over some temple authorities denying permission to Muslim traders to conduct business during Hindu festivals and annual temple fairs. This is not only unconscionable but also goes against the tent of the Constitution-mandated Right to Equality. The government has cited a rule under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 2002 barring leasing of land/building/sites near temples to non-Hindus. The moot point to ponder over here is why such rules are not subjected to scrutiny when the Bills are prepared even though rules drafted by bureaucrats straying beyond the intent of Acts passed by legislatures are not surprising.
- Now imagine a scenario what if other communities like Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs start applying this dangerous principle to exclude traders of other faiths from the vicinity of their religious places, festivals, and fairs. What will self-styled champions of Hindus say then? India as a country is known for its diversity, ethnicity, adaptability, inclusivity, and extending hands of friendship to all religious faiths under one umbrella defined by the Constitutionally mandated Rights. Mind you, what’s happening in Karnataka is not just violative of all democratic secular tenets, it is an invitation for future conflagrations as well. It is worthwhile to remember that among the Constitution’s fundamental guarantees is equitable access to public spaces for all citizens.
PC: iPleaders
- Most pertinently, the above guarantee is irrespective of religion, caste, gender, and the freedom to work or trade subject to reasonable restrictions like public order. Plus there’s no religious tradition for such a bar on Muslim traders, as that would have been in place long before 2002. In a worrying trend, Karnataka is hosting too many of these combustive moments of late. Whatever may be the political calculation of those who wink at such aggressive attitudes, the social cost can be tragically big. We cannot afford to become another Pakistan or Afghanistan patronizing religious orthodoxy and subsequently killing economic vibrancy. Thus, the incumbent government must simply scrap the rule rather than justifying a wrong by citing erstwhile Congress government.
