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Just as the United States will not tolerate Islamic terrorist
actions, like the World Trade Center Bombing, India has to challenge
antinational religious groups as well. Unfortunately
missionary conversion in India often has an antinational component,
with newly converted religious minorities, at the behest of their
leaders, agitating for separate states along the lines of the
formation of Pakistan. Hindus cannot ignore such activity merely because it is called religious.
Naturally other religious groups will
not be happy if Hindus are more assertive politically because this
will limit their influence. They will accuse Hindus of religious
prejudice even if it has no real basis. But they cannot deny the
power of the majority either. If Hindus assert themselves, not to
control others, but to sustain their traditions and national values
against unjust attacks, such voices must become silent. Hindus must
not bow down to the charge that they are intolerant, particularly if
leveled by groups who have no real history of tolerance, but must
remain firm in the truth of their Dharma. |
