Religious freedom

Articles 25 to 28 of the Constitution grant the freedom of religion but one wonders whether they restricted to the text alone (Page 1, “BJP slams U.S. for ‘bias’ against the PM”, June 23). With instances of communal violence and mob-lynching on the rise, we have to ask ourselves whether we have this freedom. The current government seems to slam critics instead of looking into the wrong that is being done.

There have been constant statements about the need to make India a “Hindu Rashtra”. Instead of slamming the criticism, the government should take corrective measures. It must remember the Prime Minister’s words, “If there is no criticism, democracy will be at a loss. One should not be saddened by criticism.”

Ishan Fouzdar,

Bengaluru

Top leaders of the ruling party condemn acts of violence and hatred against the minorities in a ritualistic manner more out of compulsion than conviction. The failure to prevent hate crimes, protection to the perpetrators of these crimes and weak law enforcement are facts that cannot be refuted. Crimes against the minorities cannot be delinked from the emergence of the ruling party as the country’s principal political force.

G. David Milton,

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

The present government is known not to accept its failures and the truth with grace. The same government asserted that demonetisation was a success though the central bank said that most of the banned denomination notes were returned. There is also data on low GDP growth and a high unemployment rate which are contrary to the government’s claim that the country is on the path to development. When the government cannot accept authentic data, no one expects it to agree with the U.S.’s assessment of India’s “religious freedom”.

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,

Hyderabad