Justice Rajinder Sachar says secularism means religious equality
Faizan Ahmad,TNN | Apr 9, 2014, 12.43 AM IST
PATNA: Justice (retd) Rajinder Sachar has hit out at his critics who spread wrong propaganda about the famous comparative report on the condition of Muslims submitted by a panel headed by him, and said Muslims and Christians in India are not outsiders but an integral part of the country.
"Secularism and socialism are fundamental elements of the preamble of the Constitution, without which no government can run, and those against these fundamentals can be tried for treason," said the 90-year-old legal luminary while addressing a seminar on 'Educational, economic and social uplift of Muslim minority in Bihar'. The seminar was organized by Tauheed Educational Trust here on Monday.
The former chief justice of Delhi high court said secularism is wrongly defined by some people, but the fact remains that it is not against any religion. Secularism means religious equality and that no religion is superior to others, he added. Justice Sachar said all persons are equal before law and there can't be any discrimination on the basis of religion, race, colour and region. The Indian constitution also accepted this position.
He also quoted Swami Vivekanand, who had asked Hindus not to treat themselves as superior, and said all religions are one and Vedantism was incomplete without Islam. "The country can't progress without equal rights and participation of Muslims and Christians. Discrimination on the basis of majority and minority is sheer foolishness. The governments should examine conflict as a result of discrimination and inequality in society," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Justice-Rajinder-Sachar-says-secularism-means-religious-equality/articleshow/33464409.cms