Thou shall not discriminate

Date: Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 3:41 AM

No secular government can indulge in the business of investing taxpayers’ money to build churches.

Thou shall not discriminate

Mr Patil’s confused thinking is apparent when he compares a hospital/school to a church and asserts that as the government repairs and rebuilds the damaged schools/ hospitals it should also rebuild churches.

The UPA government should uphold the Constitution--the Fundamental Right of Equality--it cannot discriminate on the basis of creed. The vote bank politics seem to have blinded the UPA government and is creating havoc.

It is hard to comprehend the stand of the Home Minister in demanding the States to rebuild/repair the churches that were vandalized during the communal riots. He must clarify two things:

• Does this apply only to Orissa or extend to the whole country?


• Is this rebuilding demand restricted only when churches are attacked or does it include all places of worship?


• If this is only in reference to Orissa the question is why should a State government be discriminated against?


• Any SC advise/Centre order applies to the whole country. If it is applicable only to churches then query is--can a secular government discriminate places of worship and use taxpayers for rebuilding churches?

Mr Patil’s confused thinking is apparent when he compares a hospital/school to a church and asserts that as the government repairs and rebuilds the damaged schools/ hospitals it should also rebuild churches.

There is a vast difference- ideologically, socially and politically between these institutions and by no stretch of one’s imagination can they be placed on the same plane.

No secular government can indulge in the business of investing taxpayers’ money to build churches.

Schools and hospitals come under the government and are maintained by people money. The most significant difference is that the school and the hospital are open to all creed and caste and is not a minority property.

So how the SC can give such an advice and how can the UPA government immediately jump at that and reinforce it.

• On the same basis will Mr Patil immediately take steps to see that the temples destroyed in J&K are rebuild?

The UPA government should uphold the Constitution--the Fundamental Right of Equality--it cannot discriminate on the basis of creed. The vote bank politics seem to have blinded the UPA government and is creating havoc.

Dr. Mrs. Hilda Raja,
Vadodara-15

Source: No secular government can indulge in the business of investing taxpayers’ money to build churches.