Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today alleged that the "main essence" of the Constitution was "under serious attack" in the country and added that issues such as Hindu Rashtra were being raked up by certain people to divert the people's attention from their problems.
During his speech at the Quaide Milleth College for Men here after accepting an award for probity in political life, the veteran CPI(M) leader said the country was going through a "crucial phase", and referred to the Hindu Rashtra concept being highlighted by certain outfits.
He alleged that the intention of these outfits was to convert non-Hindus to Hinduism by "creating panic" or "exerting pressure" and added that they were asking the non-Hindus to leave the country if they did not fall in line.
However, he did not name any individual or outfit.
"The main essence of our Constitution is under serious attack. India is a sovereign, democratic, socialist and secular republic. Democracy and secularism go hand-in-hand. Democracy is oxygen. Without oxygen, humans cannot survive. If there is no democracy in a society, it cannot progress. Without democracy, secularism cannot flourish," said Sarkar.
Rise in the prices of essential food items, growing unemployment, increasing farmer suicides, lack of proper power and drinking water supply and non-availability of enough schools were some of the problems being faced by the people, he added.
The Communist leader claimed that even though the people were becoming "restive" and "united" due to these problems, issues like Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Nation) were being raked up to divert their attention.
"People are getting united and to disturb this unity, there is a calculated move in the name of Hindu Rashtra. But, Hinduism did not teach this. No religion spreads venom against the other. It only teaches love," he said.
Pointing out that there were about 30 crore minorities in India, Sarkar wondered where would they go if they did not toe the line of the proponents of a particular ideology.
Minorities, especially Muslims, had always believed India to be their country and if at all they had wanted to leave it, "they (Muslims) would have gone to Pakistan or erstwhile East Pakistan long ago", he said.
He also questioned why the names of big corporates, which had defaulted large sums of bank loans, were not publicised and no action was taken against them.
Earlier, the Quaide Milleth Educational and Social Trust gave the 'Quaide Milleth Award for Probity in Political and Public Life' to Sarkar, Manipur's anti-AFSPA activist Irom Sharmila and former Tamil Nadu MLA P Mohamed Ismail.
However, Sharmila was not present at the event.
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