The police have announced in Thane that Ganapati installations, dahi handi festivities or garba cannot be used for political speeches. This falls afoul of the Representation of People Act, according to the police, because the RPA prohibits using places of worship for political purposes. We applaud this decision - religion and politics must be kept separate, as a matter of principle. Now, obviously, two things must be asked - 1. Is the police going to follow this up with concrete action against defaulters? 2. Will this extend to what is tantamount to hate speeches against other communities, or endorsing some candidate or party over another at mosques? Will this extend to Khalistani separatists preaching secession at gurudwaras? Will this extend to churches using their pulpit to spew venom and asking their sheep to vote en masse? In my opinion, laws that cannot be implemented must not be passed, and all such existing laws repealed. Secondly, all existing laws must be strictly implemented. And thirdly, everyone must be treated alike in the eyes of law, irrespective of religion - that is the fundamental premise of our republic.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 11:00:23 +0000
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