Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Redefine secularism

Sir, — The BJP victory clearly indicates that secularism has to be redefined. We cannot safeguard secularism by asking Hindus to practise it; nor can we continue with Hindu-bashing. The minorities have enough freedom to live, but definitely not to convert Hindus in the name of freedom.

Secularism should come from deep inside the heart by understanding the fact that religions are different paths to know the Almighty. This should be the basic principle of secularism. We can't have one type of secularism for the majority community and another for the minorities.

S.A. Srinivasa Sarma,
Belapur, Maharashtra

Sir, — "Harvest of hatred" or "defeat of appeasement" — call it what you like, but the fact remains that the BJP's victory cake was baked well before the first ballot was cast in Gujarat. Sonia Gandhi and J.M. Lyngdoh did a perfect job of icing the cake for the BJP.

Subbiah Venkataraman,
Thiruvananthapuram

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• Redefine secularism

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