Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party founder, Pawan Kalyan, has criticized pseudo-secularists for fueling communalism in India, claiming their silence and political motivations harm the country’s unity. He argued that true secularism should be practiced in its purest form, not manipulated for vote bank politics. “I am even ready to die for Bharat,” Kalyan asserted.
Addressing the 12th Foundation Day event of his party in Pithapuram, Kalyan emphasized his role as a staunch supporter of Sanatan Dharma and highlighted his party’s resilience in overcoming multiple challenges. He reflected on the formation of the Janasena Party in 2014, noting that it began as a solo endeavor, and expressed his commitment to nurturing 100 influential leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who could make a significant impact on the country.
“Our party faced tough odds, but we stood strong. Even after the loss in 2019, we didn’t back down. We continued to uphold the Janasena, and we are now set to win all 21 seats we contested in the upcoming 2024 polls,” Kalyan remarked.
Kalyan reaffirmed that his ideology is based on unity in diversity, with Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) as a core belief. He argued that communalism in India is a consequence of “pseudo-secularism,” pointing to historical examples of Hindu-Muslim unity, including the contributions of Hindu kings like those of the Vijayanagara empire. He said, “Because of Sanatana Dharma, the Vijayanagara kings built a mosque. Because of Sanatana Dharma, they soaked Bangladesh with the blood of Hindus and liberated Bangladesh. If you know this history, how many of you know the difficulties of partition? You shout movies, movies, movies, you get drunk there. You don’t want me to drink there. I am a fan of Amitabh, I am a fan of Chiranjeevi, but I am a bigger fan of the country.“
Kalyan went on to criticize the role of secularism in contemporary politics, particularly the inconsistent application of justice. He called out the double standards of certain politicians who condemn wrongdoings based on religious identity, while refusing to take action against those who incite violence. He said, “I once asked a senior leader in Visag what I asked was what is secularism, what is the true meaning of secularism. And so the word came up. What I asked was if a Hindu commits a mistake, condemn him, if he betrays a Muslim, condemn him, punish him. Similarly, if a Muslim hates a Hindu and attacks him, punish them both. The punishment is the same. Otherwise, if we do this, we’ll lose votes; if we do that, we lose votes. They are politicizing the votes for this very reason. Why are they hyping this up? It’s because of this. Because of pseudo secularists. This is happening today. Because of you, pseudo secularists. Because of you. If you applied in the true spirit there would have been no need for the changes what are there today because of your mistake.“
He stressed that true secularism must involve treating all communities equally and fairly, without political expediency. Pawan Kalyan said, “True secularism should be applied in its true spirit, not for damn convenient vote-bank politics. Don’t! Don’t do it! Jana Sena is not for it. We will declare wrong as wrong.” Strongly denouncing the attacks on Hindu traditions, he raised the question, “If idols of Lord Sri Ram are beheaded, Hindu gods are mocked with vulgar language, and deities like Goddess Lakshmi and Bathukamma are insulted, why is no one allowed to question it? But if a deity from another religion is insulted, ‘secularism’ suddenly becomes an issue. This hypocrisy is unacceptable.”
He also spoke passionately about the importance of respecting all religions, citing examples of how his beliefs are shaped by Sanatan Dharma’s teachings of respect and compassion. He emphasized the need for punishment when any individual or group commits violence, regardless of their religion, to prevent further division.
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