Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi sparked a row on Monday, saying secularism is a European concept that doesn’t belong to India.
Addressing a convocation function of Hindu Dharma Vidya Peetham at Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari, Ravi said wrong interpretation of secularism was one of the many frauds that have been committed to the people of the country.
"What does secularism mean? Secularism is a European concept, secularism is not a Bharatiya concept. In Europe, secularism emerged as there was a fight between the church and the king and in order to end this conflict, which went on for a long time, this concept was evolved,” he said.
READ: Indian secularism: What defines it?
The governor said when the Indian Constitution was being drafted after Independence, the Constituent Assembly rejected the concept of secularism as India was a dharma-centric country and there has been no conflict.
Ravi further claimed it was one “insecure prime minister” who introduced secularism in the Constitution during emergency in order to appease some sections of people—a reference to Indira Gandhi.
READ: OPINION: Features of India's ideological revolution
Ravi’s remark stirred up a political storm with the ruling DMK saying the governor should first fully read the Constitution.
“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,” DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan.
“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," he said.
READ: Isn't the Ram Temple in Ayodhya a victory for Jinnah?
The CPI also condemned the governor’s remarks, saying secularism is essential to keep religion and politics separate.
"I strongly deplore the statement made by RN Ravi. What does he know about secularism? What does he know about India? He is a governor...he must abide by the Constitution. The Constitution of India defines India as secular democratic republic...Dr BR Ambedkar emphatically rejected theocratic concept...Ambedkar went to the extent of saying, if at all Hindu Rashtra becomes a fact, that will be a calamity for the nation...secularism means keeping religion and politics separate...don't bring Gods for electoral purposes," CPI leder D. Raja said.