Kannur, Aug 03: Strongly advocating the concept of "Hindu rashtra" to save the country's heritage, culture and traditions, a top leader of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha today asked the parties in power to discard the principles of secularism "to protect the country from the internal and external threats". "The secular character of India has led to a series of crises as we are on the brink of another disintegration after the 1947 partition and it is high time that Hindus in the country foster unity to lead a life of dignity and honour,” Sadhu Rangarajan of Bharatmata Gurukul Temple, Bangalore, said after launching the mahasabha's Kerala pradesh unit.

Maintaining that Hinduism was a way of life based on India's culture and traditions, Rangarajan said that it was the bounden duty of every citizen to follow such traditions to help the country attain overall development.

Expressing concern over the exodus of the Hindus from Jammu and Kashmir, he alleged that the situation was the direct result of upholding the so-called secular principles.

The mahasabha's youth wing national vice-president Santosh Kumar Rai alleged that the majority community members were forced to live like second class citizens in their own country thanks to "undue privileges" being given to the minorities in the name of secularism.
"If the minorities want to live in harmony and peace, they should first consider India as their motherland and be prepared to sacrifice everything for the country or else the country would face both internal and external threats,” he maintained.

Bureau Report