The Hindu : National : "Hindutva" still influences politics in some regions: U.S. report

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Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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"Hindutva" still influences politics in some regions: U.S. report

"India respects freedom of religion that the constitution provides"

Hindutva-based policies couldn't be implemented without court approval
Government sometimes did not act swiftly to counter attacks against religious minorities

Indian courts have regularly upheld principle of religious freedom

Washington: "Hindutva" continues to influence government policies and societal attitudes in some regions at the State and local levels in India despite the United Progressive Alliance Government's rejection of the ideology, says a U.S. Government report.

The U.S. State Department's annual report on religious freedom worldwide, released here on Friday, however, said, "Hindutva-based policies could not be implemented without passing court review to determine whether they were consistent with the principles enshrined in the country's secular constitution."

Despite the Government's 2005 action to withdraw textbooks espousing a Hindu nationalist agenda, the report says, continuing problems with biased textbooks in some States led the Government to take action by recommending formation of a National Textbook Council to ensure such books no longer appear in the curriculum. — UNI

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