Chennai: Well-known for his controversial statements, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi sparked a row on Monday, saying secularism is a European concept that doesn’t belong to India.
Addressing a convocation function of Hindu Dharma Vidya Peetham in Kanyakumari, Ravi said wrong interpretation of secularism was one of the many frauds that have been committed to the Indians.
“What does secularism mean? Secularism is a European concept, secularism is not a Bharatiya concept. In Europe, secularism emerged as there was a fight between the church and the king and in order to end this conflict, which went on for a long time, this concept was evolved,” he said.
The governor said when the Indian Constitution was being drafted after Independence, the Constituent Assembly rejected the concept of secularism as India was a dharma-centric country and there has been no conflict.
Ravi further claimed it was one “insecure prime minister” who introduced secularism in the Constitution during emergency in order to appease some sections of people – a reference to Indira Gandhi.
Ravi’s remark stirred up a political storm with the ruling DMK saying the governor should first fully read the Constitution.
“Article 25 says that there should be a conscious freedom of religion that he doesn’t know… He should go and read the constitution fully,” DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan.
“The problem with the BJP is that they neither know India, nor the Constitution…They don’t know anything. That is why they could not even form a government on their own,” he said.
The CPI also condemned the governor’s remarks, saying secularism is essential to keep religion and politics separate.
Party’s leader D. Raja said, “I strongly deplore the statement made by RN Ravi. What does he know about secularism? What does he know about India? He is a governor… he must abide by the Constitution. The Constitution of India defines India as secular democratic republic… Dr BR Ambedkar emphatically rejected theocratic concept… Ambedkar went to the extent of saying, if at all Hindu Rashtra becomes a fact, that will be a calamity for the nation… secularism means keeping religion and politics separate… don’t bring gods for electoral purposes.”
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat hit out at Tamil Nadu governor for his comments on secularism, calling it a “shame” that someone with such views has been appointed to governor. Calling Ravi’s remark “perplexing” as she also took an apparent jibe at the ruling BJP.
Karat stated that this reflects the “RSS understanding” and warned that he might soon claim the Constitution is also a “foreign concept”. Karat also took a veiled dig at the BJP as she pointed out that the party has been appointing those who do not believe in the country’s supreme rulebook as Governors.
Congress’ Manickam Tagore, in a post on X said the Governor’s comment is against the Constitution.
“While the idea of secularism may be different in foreign countries, in India we respect all other religions, we respect all other traditions and we respect all other practices and this is the idea of secularism in India,” said the three-term MP.
