The RSS the vanguard of the fascist rightist politics though has started the process of engraining the idea in the most venomous matter just after the partition of the country, it multiplied its efforts in 2014, once its protégé Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

The RSS not only took to indoctrinating the common Hindus, instead its forerunner leaders resorted to terrorise and threaten the people who mustered courage to question and oppose the move. Monday’s statement of UP’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is testimony to it. He not only decried secularism as the biggest threat to India's tradition getting recognition on the global stage he even warned that people creating false propaganda about the country for a meagre sum of money would face the heat ( obviously implying the consequences).

He did not nurse any inhibition or fear when he issued warning. He simply reiterated what he or his other rightist vigilantes have been saying or doing. India was respected by the global fraternity for being the most vibrant democratic and secular country. Ironically for Yogi; "This word 'secularism' is the biggest threat to develop India's prosperous traditions and give it a spot on the global stage.” In his eyes the people championing the cause of the secularism are the enemy of the country and they are misguiding the public for their own benefit and betraying the country will not be spared”.

His poor knowledge of the religion and religious history is manifest in his observation that Buddhism had originated from Hinduism. This was nothing but a deliberate attempt to humiliate the Dalits who in protest of the Brahminical exploitation and Hindutva repression has been embracing Buddhism.

It is really sad to witness that these people survive behind the veneer of fantasy, in their make believe world. They romanticise the vision of the expansion of Indian boundaries. Obviously to achieve the New India as perceived by the RSS should not bother for the augmentation of the basic human indices, instead prepare a strong saffron brigade of the warriors.

Though Yogi has sworn by the Constitution of India while taking the charge of the office of the, his despise of secularism is indictment of the Constitution; he does not believe in the basic tenet of the Constitution. It would have been morally correct for Yogi to quit and spearhead his campaign. How can he vilify the Constitution by virtue of which he is ruling UP? It is really intriguing how he could say that he was not a secular.

Yogi blaming parochialism and constricted mentality of certain sections for depriving the country of its justifiable pride in history clearly implies that he should learn some lessons of the history. It is utopian to believe that he would become secular. But he owes an explanation to the country for saying; “I believe the biggest lie in India after independence is the word secularism. The people who introduced this word and people who still use this word, should apologise to the country and its citizens.”

By implication Yogi also insults the leaders, particularly Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who framed the Constitution. Only a politically bankrupt person can inflict accusation on the framers of the Constitution. They had visualised the situation which was why they declared the Indian republic as secular, meaning thereby, that state in its functioning will not give importance to any religion. Religion and religious organisations will have their place, religious faith, customs and traditions will also continue as they are but the government will neither follow a particular religion nor oppose any religion.

The political dominance of the BJP’s brand of Hindu nationalism since the 2014 election has called into question the future viability of the country’s secularist tradition and its commitment to diversity. India’s defining characteristics is that it has managed to sustain democratic governance. Nevertheless it is the failure of the secular forces that has handed over the opportunity on platter to the rightist elements to decry the secularism itself. These people were never true to their commitment and conviction. The suspicion that whether secularism can maintain its hold as a defining ideology for the country has surfaced due to their failures. There is no denying the fact that it has become a means to get the votes and win elections.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that except Nehru no other politician made any serious effort to strengthen the secular values and ethics. In fact Nehru sought to prevent Indian politicians from exploiting religion for political gain. The situation started getting deteriorated after 1980. The political masters used the religious wisdom and ignored the secular tenets to meet the political challenges. Muslim leaders who accuse the Congress of abandoning secular values had forced the Congress leadership to compromise the secular ethics.

For Hindutva protagonists who do not subscribe to secularism, the BJP’s rise to power in 2014 heralded a new era of resurgence. They no longer needed to fear police retribution and, in some cases, even became incorporated into the state apparatus. It was after this phase secularism became the most derided word. This phase provided a new kind of recognition to Hindu nationalism.

The Hindutva forces adopting aggressive posture owes to the 'Secular' Forces abandoning Secularism. It is a paradox that while only Congress is identified as the force which betrayed the secular values, other forces and parties which have been claiming to represent secularism are targeted. The failure of the secular forces to uphold the secular narratives has been primarily responsible for the rightward shift of the polity. (IPA Service)