<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->NEW DELHI: The UPA government's 'secular' credentials came in for
embarrassing scrutiny on Monday with Supreme Court interrogating the Centre
on whether secularism, a basic feature of the Constitution, allowed it to
grant largesse for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/artic...003001.cms
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Justice A.R. Lakshmanan and Justice C.K. Thakker, while clearing the subsidy for this year as all arrangements had been made, asked Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati "whether granting subsidy for one pilgrimage does not violate the secular character of our Constitution that there shall be no discrimination on the basis of religion. Either grant such subsidy to all religions or don't give it at all."
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Sep 22 2006, 12:10 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Sep 22 2006, 12:10 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Well, subsidy should be given to Hindus for Mansarovar yatra, Bali and Ankhor Vatt. Special plane and airport facilities should be provided.
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Even if this is done, it is not the same.. Hindu endowments are controlled by the GoI as opposed to the WAKF board or Christian Diocese. The ruling should state that WAKF should be responsible for the subsidy and that in a truly secular state either GoI should be hands off from Hindu Endowments or take contol of Christian and Muslim boards.
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Sep 22 2006, 03:29 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Sep 22 2006, 03:29 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sunder,
to make it happen, consitution must be changed, present version is against majority religion.
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I agree wholeheartedly that this is so. The question then becomes, what is the majority doing to change this? How can this effectively be done? I also am aware that this is a sixty year old question (w.r.t an 'independent India'), but there seems to be no answer coming out of sheer inaction.
