Mangaluru: Harsh Mander, social worker, writer and director of Centre for Equity Studies, New Delhi said here on Wednesday that the values of fraternity and diversity, which are the core principles of Indian constitution, have been deeply threatened, especially after the 2009 parliamentary elections.

In an interaction programme organized by Samadarshi Vedike, Mr. Mander said that many were stunned when a political party which defied these core principles received 31% of vote in the previous elections. 

In addition to it, he also stressed that the fight should be between secular forces and communal forces of all the religions and not Hindu versus Muslim. Secularism is not just tolerating the differences within our society, but accepting and celebrating our diversity.

“There is a need to save Hinduism from Hindutva”, he said quoting the former editor of Jan Satta Prabhash Joshi.

On the controversial Ghar Wapsi programme by saffron activists, he said that the Hindus were converted to other religion due to the existence of inequality in Hinduism. Today, caste discrimination exists in every religion. So, there is no point in going back to Hinduism, if those who come back are looked down upon.

After Muzaffarnagar communal clash, there is a gap between the Hindu and Muslim community. It destroys the diverse idea of India. He said that that the politics of hate should be opposed and an alternative politics of love should be created, Mr. Mander added.

Besides, he also questioned the nature of government, which is primarily in support of big business tycoons and does not defend the poor. Can it be a welfare state?, he questioned. “The wealth is owned by a few people in the world. There is unequal distribution of resources, which is due to the neo-liberal policies. It’s worrying”, he said.