Loss of lives, destruction of religious places in Manipur do not bring secularism in India a good name: Justice KM Joseph

Former Supreme Court judge Justice KM Joseph on Thursday lamented the loss of lives and destruction of religious places in Manipur in the recent communal riots and said that the same does not bode well for secularism in India..He remarked that such incidents create a perception that our country is not dedicated to secularism."Take the case of Manipur. How many lives have been lost? How many places of religious worship have been destroyed? It does not bring secularism a good name in India," he said.The former judge was speaking on the topic 'Concept of Secularism under Indian Constitution' which was part of the continuing legal education program of the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA)..He also alluded to the importance of having a strong and independent media to counter divisive tendencies."What are the threats to secularism? The right to life is the most important right. If you don't have a secular country, the right to life is under threat....the word goes around that we do not have a country that is dedicated to secularism. That we are not strong enough. Does the media stand up as one voice and raise it at one time?" Joseph stated..The fourth estate is a very powerful and potent instrument, particularly visual media, he added."If they stand as one against the government, forget about their philosophy but in matters of this nature, no government will be able to withstand a unified press or media provided they have in them the fire of the Constitution, the fire of the pyre that will be lit on the rights of the citizens who have died. This is for any part of India. Manipur comes to mind because it is recent," Justice Joseph remarked..Justice Joseph also said that removing the word 'secular' from the preamble of the Constitution can sound the death knell of democracy."If secularism is removed by any government under the impression that by removing the word secularism you are removing the feature, the fact is that it will sound the death knell of democracy...Without secularism, a country with so many religions languages cultures is in danger of losing its own ethos," he underscored.At the same time he expressed optimism that secularism will survive ."The optimism comes from the Hindu religion itself. Vast majority of Hindus are completely broad-minded and tolerant and they do not treat religion in the manner that other religions do," he said. .He also urged citizens to act by shedding divisions based on caste and religion and embracing fraternity. "There is no point in lying in bed saying I will not protest or do anything, let the State do whatever it wants. You mount all sorts of criticism and display complete impotence when it comes to your own actions. What is it that you are contributing? We have to forge unions based on fraternity irrespective of religion or caste. Both are considerations which in this century have outlived their use. The purpose essentially, if at all, is to bring you closer to the supreme being you believe in. Not to get at each other's throats," he remarked.Further talking about riots in India, Justice Joseph mentioned,"There have been riots for centuries. But post the adoption of the Constitution, it is my belief that under secularism, it is the bounden duty of the state to protect the lives of all its citizens regardless of religion race caste etc.".[Read coverage of full speech below].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.