Skip to main content

Concerned citizens ask PM to stop violation of constitutional right to freedom of religion and belief

Counterview Desk 
Concerned citizens from  different states of India states write an open letter to the Prime Minister seeking strict implementation of the Places of Worship Act, 1991:
***
In a significant collective appeal, we concerned citizens from different states across India have come together to write an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging immediate intervention for the strict implementation of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This Act is a critical piece of legislation that ensures the religious character of places of worship is maintained as it stood on August 15, 1947, thereby promoting peace and harmony in the country.  
The citizens' letter highlights the alarming trend of demands by fringe groups for archaeological surveys of mosques and dargahs, including iconic places like Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, and Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura. These demands, often accompanied by judicial actions permitting such surveys, have raised concerns about violations of the constitutional right to freedom of religion and belief.  
The letter points out that such actions not only target the Muslim community but also undermine India's rich syncretic culture and heritage, which is revered globally. It underscores that these places of worship are integral to India's composite culture, serving as symbols of unity and harmony.  
Referring to the Places of Worship Act, the letter emphasizes its importance in preventing communal conflicts and maintaining social harmony. The Act was envisioned to stabilize the social fabric of the country and prevent divisive contestations over religious heritage. However, the increasing challenges to this legislation are deepening communal fault lines and risking unrest.  
The citizens have urged the Supreme Court to take **suo motu** action and instruct all district and sessions courts to respect and uphold the provisions of the Places of Worship Act in both letter and spirit. They also call upon the Prime Minister to unequivocally condemn such divisive demands and take a firm stance against communal polarization.  
The signatories of this open letter,  have expressed grave concern over the silence of the leadership on this issue. They believe that a clear and strong response is essential to restore confidence, security, and the rule of law among all citizens of the country.  
This will uphold India's constitutional values and ensure justice, equality, and harmony for all its people.
---
Click here for signatories 

Comments

Post a Comment

NOTE: While there is no bar on viewpoint, comments containing hateful or abusive language will not be published and will be marked spam. -- Editor

TRENDING

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.
Post a Comment
»

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”
Post a Comment
»

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.
Post a Comment
»