Pseudo-secularism

Pseudo-secularism is the state of implicit non-secular trends in the face of pledged secularism. The term is used by groups who perceive a double standard exhibited within the established secular governing policy towards culturally different groups.

In India

, the constitution of India describes the country as 'secular', and generally most mainstream political forces describe themselves as 'secular'. Its important to note that in the Indian context the term is mainly used as an opposite of 'communal', rather than describing the role of state-religion relations.

The Hindu nationalist movement, who are frequently accused of being communal by those who disagree with their policies and ideology, claim that their opponents are pseudo-secularists. Their claim is that the opponents of the Hindu nationalist movement are not truly secular since they, in the eyes of Hindu nationalists, favor minority communities (such as Indian Muslims or Indian Christians) at the expense of the interests of the Hindu community.

A major issue raised by the Hindu nationalist movement are separate legal codes for religious minority communities, such as the Shariat bill, and the Indian Government's subsidy of the travel of Indian Muslims to Saudi Arabia to visit Mecca (Hajj subsidy) or Kumbh Melas for Hindus and many religious holidays.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://innaiahn.tripod.com/inn.html#4 Peculiar style Indian secularism]
* [http://mandangi.tripod.com/secular.html What is secularism? (India)]