DMK's Elangovan Rebukes Governor's Stance on Secularism

DMK leader TKS Elangovan responded strongly to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's remarks on secularism, asserting its essential role in India's diverse religious landscape and urging the Governor to better understand India's Constitution.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan has sharply criticized Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's recent comments dismissing secularism as a European concept that is unnecessary in India. Elangovan emphasized that secularism is crucial for maintaining harmony in a nation with a plethora of religions. 'Secularism is not a European concept, it is an Indian concept as there are many religions in India. India is the motherland of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism. Secularism is the most needed concept in India, not in Europe,' stated Elangovan.

Elangovan also accused Governor Ravi of lacking a proper understanding of the Indian Constitution, particularly Article 25, which ensures freedom of religion. 'The Governor, he had not gone through the Constitution of India. Article 25 says that there should be a conscious freedom of religion that he doesn't know... He should go and read the Constitution fully... 22 languages are listed in our Constitution. Hindi is a language spoken by a few states. The remaining states speak other languages... The problem with the BJP is that they neither know India, nor the Constitution... They don't know anything. That is why they could not even form a government on their own,' Elangovan added.

Governor Ravi had ignited debate by calling secularism a European concept unsuitable for India. Addressing the Hindu Dharma Vidya Peetham convocation in Kanyakumari, he said, 'A lot of frauds have been committed to the people of this country, and one of them is that they have been given a wrong interpretation of secularism. What does secularism mean!? Secularism is a European concept, secularism is not a Bhartiya concept.'

Ravi argued that secularism in Europe emerged from conflicts between the church and the king, while asserting that India does not need secularism. 'In Europe, secularism came because there was a fight between the church and the king. How can India be away from 'Dharma'? Secularism is a European concept and let it be there only. In India, there is no need for secularism,' he stated.

This is not the first instance of such statements from the Governor. Last year, he suggested that distorted interpretations of secularism were aimed at weakening the nation. 'Our Constitution is not against 'dharma'... it is the people who want to break this country, they have given a distorted interpretation of secularism. We have to understand the true meaning of secularism in our Constitution... those talking about eradicating Hinduism have a hidden agenda to break this country in collaboration with hostile foreign powers. They will not succeed as Bharat has inherent strength,' the Governor had said.