Thread by @asadowaisi

Our MANY traditions are already celebrated & we're also recognised for our modern achievements: being one of only former colonies that's striven to be secular republic despite men like him. Sangh is allergic to secularism because it wants us to be seen as a majoritarian state1/n

https://twitter.com/scroll_in/status/1368574658954616837

Secularism is part of Basic Structure of Constitution. It's reflected in various parts of Constitution. “Liberty of thought belief faith & worship” is part of Preamble, as are fraternity & equality. Articles 14 19 22 25, 26, 29 & 30 are all reflection of our secular tradition 2/n

Sangh speaks of secularism with a forked tongue. On odd days they say that India is secular because majority of Indians are secular. On even days they say that secularism has prevented global recognition of our traditions. We're secular because of our Constitution 3/n

We are secular because our founders chose to make India a secular country. It was not just Ambedkar but also Sardar Patel, KT Shah, Nehru, among others . Because secularism guarantees progress & a govt that's not obsessed with hate & historical fiction 3/n

This is why his statement is not just an insult to our Constitution but our global achievements as well. We were a model for many other developing countries. He's ignorant or has wilfully disregarded how well celebrated we're on the global stage. 4/n

In fact if he feels we are not respected he should complain to @PMOIndia. It is not the fault of secularism that this has happened. It has happened DESPITE it. Did this happen because Sangh spent the last 70 years opposing Constitution at the cost of our global stature? 5/n

It is not because of secularism but because of @PMOIndia that China is occupying our lands, it is not because of secularism but because of Modi that our neighbours are increasingly "Looking East" towards China & abandoning decades' old friendships with India. 6/n

They keep blaming secularism but it hasn't prevented them from bhumi pujan in Ayodhya, it hasn't prevented them from constantly attacking other beliefs & people who are not Hindu, it has not prevented him from becoming CM after allegedly instigating riots in Mau & Gorakhpur 7/n

Have these egregious violations of secularism helped uplift our global stature? Has it increased global recognition of our traditions? At no point in our history did we ever have MEA issue statements in response to a teenager's TWEET. So much for blaming secularism 8/n

Secularism is not to blame. It's constantly attacked abused & exploited. But Constitution is 1 package. You can't complain about its core principles & in same breath use it to seize power & hold official posts. It's because of Constitution that he's CM, he can't whine about it9/n

This is proof that Sangh only sees Constitution as tool to gain power. They hate the constraints it places on those in power. They're actually actively attacking every value that is underlying our Constitution. Today it is secularism, tomorrow it may be fraternity/justice n/n