Global/Regional Ramifications of India’s Constitutional Denial in Accepting Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism as Separate Religions
Constitutionally, India’s Prime Minister is a Hindu and not a Sikh as Sikhs by law are considered as part of Hinduism. Not only that, even Buddhists and Jains are considered as off-shoot of Hinduism and are not accepted as followers of separate religions.
Article 25 in The Constitution Of India 1949, clearly states that:
“Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly”
Article 25 in The Constitution Of India 1949
The Indian Supreme Court in a ruling of 2005 also states the Sikhs and Jains form part of broad Hindu religion.
Jains, Sikhs part of broader Hindu religion, says SC
New Delhi, August 10 [2005]
In a significant ruling defining the status of communities like Sikhs and Jains within the Constitutional frame work, the Supreme Court has declined to treat them as separate minority communities from the broad Hindu religion, saying encouraging such tendencies would pose serious jolt to secularism and democracy in the country.
“The so-called minority communities like Sikhs and Jains were not treated as national minorities at the time of framing of the Constitution. Sikhs and Jains, in fact, have throughout been treated as part of wider Hindu community, which has different sects, sub-sects, faiths, modes of worship and religious philosophies,” a Bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti, Mr Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari and Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan said.
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation
Such constitutional violations of Human Rights in India, in addition to internal societal fissures lead to global and regional ramifications and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The ill-treatment of Indian minorities force them to adopt extra-constitutional and extra judicial means, which in many cases have resulted in armed struggles for secession from India. The resultant response by the Indian security forces exacerbate the problem and the cycle of violence results in more violence. It has been previously quoted in this forum that India had the largest number of minority community armed secessionist groups anywhere in the world. These armed groups seek support from various non-state actors and terrorist groups within and outside India which creates problems at regional levels as well as globally. Khalistan movement in Punjab, secessionist movements in Kashmir and North East India, downing of Indian Airliner by Sikhs in Canada and Purulia Arms Drop are but some of the examples. There are numerous other examples that can be quoted.
Not accepting Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism as separate religions and considering these religions as part of majority Hindu religion through constitutional provisions is part of a much bigger problem. Though these are India’s internal matters, yet they generates problems far beyond India’s borders not only for the regional countries but for out of region countries as well.
Don’t you think that it is time for the people of India to sort out their internal mess within their borders without blaming beyond it on other regional countries and those beyond.
Constitutionally, India’s Prime Minister is a Hindu and not a Sikh as Sikhs by law are considered as part of Hinduism. Not only that, even Buddhists and Jains are considered as off-shoot of Hinduism and are not accepted as followers of separate religions.
Article 25 in The Constitution Of India 1949, clearly states that:
“Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly”
Article 25 in The Constitution Of India 1949
The Indian Supreme Court in a ruling of 2005 also states the Sikhs and Jains form part of broad Hindu religion.
Jains, Sikhs part of broader Hindu religion, says SC
New Delhi, August 10 [2005]
In a significant ruling defining the status of communities like Sikhs and Jains within the Constitutional frame work, the Supreme Court has declined to treat them as separate minority communities from the broad Hindu religion, saying encouraging such tendencies would pose serious jolt to secularism and democracy in the country.
“The so-called minority communities like Sikhs and Jains were not treated as national minorities at the time of framing of the Constitution. Sikhs and Jains, in fact, have throughout been treated as part of wider Hindu community, which has different sects, sub-sects, faiths, modes of worship and religious philosophies,” a Bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti, Mr Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari and Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan said.
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation
Such constitutional violations of Human Rights in India, in addition to internal societal fissures lead to global and regional ramifications and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The ill-treatment of Indian minorities force them to adopt extra-constitutional and extra judicial means, which in many cases have resulted in armed struggles for secession from India. The resultant response by the Indian security forces exacerbate the problem and the cycle of violence results in more violence. It has been previously quoted in this forum that India had the largest number of minority community armed secessionist groups anywhere in the world. These armed groups seek support from various non-state actors and terrorist groups within and outside India which creates problems at regional levels as well as globally. Khalistan movement in Punjab, secessionist movements in Kashmir and North East India, downing of Indian Airliner by Sikhs in Canada and Purulia Arms Drop are but some of the examples. There are numerous other examples that can be quoted.
Not accepting Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism as separate religions and considering these religions as part of majority Hindu religion through constitutional provisions is part of a much bigger problem. Though these are India’s internal matters, yet they generates problems far beyond India’s borders not only for the regional countries but for out of region countries as well.
Don’t you think that it is time for the people of India to sort out their internal mess within their borders without blaming beyond it on other regional countries and those beyond.
