Religious Minorities - How ought religious minorities to fit into the Indian political system? Dr. Khilnani's Response: The Indian political system was devised so as to recognise the rights of minorities, and to protect them from the potential oppression of majorities. This is a guarantee which the Indian state must continue to uphold. On the other hand, religious communities need also to make themselves open to public debate, self-criticism, and reform. Dr. Kak's Response: The Indian political system needs to become indifferent to religion; that is, become religion-blind. At the same time sufficient devolution of power would ensure that religious minorities will not get left out of the political process. The government should neither run Hindu temples nor provide subsidies to Haj pilgrims. Such policies cause resentments that are exploited by extremists, making it difficult for minorities to fit into the political system. Dr. Kak's Rebuttal: Bringing religion into political discourse is to go down a slippery slope. The government should work in a narrow circle, to provide basic infrastructure and regulation of commerce and education, and not concern itself with keeping track of each religious sect and group. Dr. Khilnani's Rebuttal: I would agree that the Indian state should become increasingly indifferent to religion -- but this will need to be a gradual and phased process, which wins the consent of all the groups concerned. Unfortunately, the BJP and their religious allies would like to impose polices by fiat.   See other debate topics Attacks on Muslims Halting Communal Violence Lessons of Indian History The Indian Constitution Religious Minorities The Indian Soul India in the 21st Century Relations with Pakistan The War on Terror Nuclear Weapons Nation Divided Photo Essay - Trace India's post-Ayodhya religious strife. India Timeline - Learn more about the history of relations between India's Hindus and Muslims. Human Rights Atlas - Learn more about human rights in Mexico and its Central American neighbors. Grozny Photo Essay - Take a walk through Chechnya's bombed-out capital, Grozny. Kurdistan Map - See where Iraq's chemical attacks on Kurdistan took place, and why. Chechnya Timeline - Discover the history that drives the Chechen separtist movement. Mexico Photo Forum - Respond to photos that depict Mexico's struggle with human rights abuses and corruption.

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