Yes, India is secular
India has almost all the major religions in the world with all its citizens free to practice any faith he deems appropriate.There are several arguments that can be presented in favour of India being a secular country. I will give just an example.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh---- Sikh
President Pratibha Patil---- Hindu woman
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam---- Muslim
Vice President Hamid Ansari---- Muslim
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee---- Atheist
Leader of the Ruling Party Sonia Gandhi---- Christian and foreigner by birth
Chief Justice of India---- Dalit
No, India is not Secular
India is the only country in the world where religious vote bank politics has gained the most. Religion and politics are interwoven to such a dangerous extent. India has been notorious for its religious tolerance in many parts of the country. The 1947 riots, Gujarat pogrom, the recent Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir problems are stark reminders of this fact. Many more examples can be given.Each and every citizen in India has faced petty differences in his environment which contrasts with India's Constitution claiming India is a Secular country.
That India has definite religious differences which have led to a whole lot of problems is an undisputable fact. Also undisputable is that India, throughout its history has absorbed each and every faith and prospered through it without eliminating the other faiths. Even after Independence India continues to be so.
So Is India Truly Secular?
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