The Hindu : Karnataka News : Former MP defends Advani's statement on Jinnah

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Former MP defends Advani's statement on Jinnah

Correspondent

`Sangh Parivar's reaction reflects its fascist attitude'

KARWAR: B.V. Nayak, former MP, has said that the recent statement of L.K. Advani, BJP President, on Mohammed Ali Jinnah should be viewed in a wider perspective, including the peace process between India and Pakistan, global terrorism and Mr. Advani's political strategy to expand the party's base.

Speaking on the controversy over Mr. Advani's statement at a function organised here on Sunday by the Press Guild and the Gib group of Kumta, he said the reaction of the Sangh Parivar to the statement reflects its fascist attitude. He wondered whether Mr. Advani had to pay the price for freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution.

In a fix

Mr. Nayak said Mr. Advani with his statement put the secular parties, including the Congress and the Left parties, in a fix.

They could neither support nor oppose him, Mr. Nayak said.

He said Jinnah was not the only person responsible for the partition of the country.

His secular credentials can be traced to his statement on August 14, 1947 that people are free to follow their religion in Pakistan without any fear, he added.

S.R. Narayana Rao, retired principal, who spoke on "Secularism and human values," said religion should not be used to build walls between communities.

While every person has the right to practise the religion of his choice, he has no right to impose it on others, he said.

Code of conduct

Religion provides a code of conduct by which human values are upheld, he added.

M.H. Naik, convener of the programme, initiated the discussion.

Prabhat Shenoi, guild secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.

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