22, Sep 2015

Perversion of the concept of secularism in India has resulted in the terming of nationalists as communal and people with communal thinking being hailed as secular. MANMOHAN VAIDYA, RSS’s publicity chief
NEW DELHI: In what could trigger a fresh round of political controversy, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ruling BJP’s ideological mentor, suggested the concept of secularism was “irrelevant” in the Indian context.
“Secularism evolved along the themes of separation of the Church and state in Europe and since India doesn’t have a history of theocratic states, the concept of secularism is irrelevant in the Indian context,” RSS’s publicity chief Manmohan Vaidya said at an event in Chennai.
Vaidya was addressing more than 80 columnists from the southern states at a seminar on secularism organised by the RSS’ publicity department on Saturday and Sunday.
Vaidya added, “Perversion of the concept of secularism in India has resulted in the terming of nationalists as communal and people with communal thinking being hailed as secular.”