Foot in the mouth disease of Ghulam Nabi Azad

I am anti-Congress. But am not pro-BJP. But of course I am against all pseudo secularist parties.

Secularism is generally the assertion that governmental practices or institutions should exist separately from religion or religious beliefs. Alternatively, it is a principle of promoting secular ideas or values in either public or private settings over religious ways of thought.In one sense, secularism may assert the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, and freedom from the government imposition of religion upon the people, within a state that is neutral on matters of belief, and gives no state privileges or subsidies to religions. - wikipedia

In my opinion, secularism should mean the freedom for the individual to practice the religion he chooses and for all religion to be treated on par in all aspects.

But in India, most parties - most notably the Congress, have abused the word to such an extend that it has lost its sanctity. When a blatantly communal party like Muslim League in Kerala or the PDP in J&K talk about being secular, then there is something wrong with our national psyche.

What triggered this thought process is the most ridiculous statement from Ghulam Nabi Azad, the J&K outgoing Chief Minister on the election results coming out of J&K. It is a fractured verdict and BJP has made inroads into Congress bastions in Jammu by taking leads in 12 seats and Congress has lost its ability to be the king maker. Instead of accepting the peoples verdict as a vote against his rule, Azad has the gall to tell the following as per Indian Express,

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Gulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said the "rise" of BJP in the state was a worrying sign.(pray. why is it worrying? BJP is a national party and has been in existence for a long time. how come are you saying, it is 'rising'?)

"It does worry me. These trends are the outcome of unfortunate things happened in July and August. (A reference to the Amarnath yathra. The government goofed up big time not to stand by its decisions to provide land for pilgrim who brave inclement weather to build 'temporary' shelters. they bowed to the fanatics who created an issue out of nothing. did Azad expect any self respecting Jammu to vote for him after his deplorable stand?) The question is that secularism is getting shrunk at the cost of development," Azad said, adding that it should be "a worry for each and every Indian." (Let Azad worry about himself and his party. Indians know what they want. And pray what is secularism in your words Azad? Sharing power with a blatantly communal party like PDP who has no principles whatsoever, who stands for separatism and who has suppressed hindus in the State - is this what secularism is all about?)

"The rise of BJP in the border state which is facing terrorism is a worrying factor for the entire country," he said. ( Again invoking the country. Any he is worried about the rise of BJP but not about the fact that the Border state is having terrorism, which should be of more concern to the country. And who are behind these terrorists? Not BJP or Hindus)

"Their only vision is to create communal tension among the people," Azad said. "They are being rejected across the country because of their communalism." (Azad must be getting senile for him to claim that BJP is getting rejected across the country. Last heard they and NDA were in power in more than 12 states. That, in my opinion, is not rejection. It is his party, which has brought disgrace to the nation by tolerating an errant cabinet minister like AR Antulay, just because he is is a muslim, that is facing rejection)

Congress as a party is pits. They have no moral scruples.They can tell anything they like as a party. But idiots like Azad should not be allowed to speak on behalf of Indians. We know better.