'Secularism Is A European Concept, No Need In India': Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi Sparks Row

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi faced backlash for stating that secularism is a “European concept” and that India has no need for it. He made these remarks during a public event in Kanyakumari on Sunday.

In his speech, Ravi had claimed that many frauds have been committed against the people of this country, one of which is the “wrong interpretation of secularism.”

He further stated: “What does secularism mean? Secularism is a European concept, and it is not an Indian concept. In Europe, secularism came because there was a fight between the Church and the king… How can India be away from ‘dharma’? Secularism is a European concept and let it be there only. In India, there is no need for secularism.”

Reacting on the social media platform X, several opposition leaders strongly condemned the Tamil Nadu Governor for his comments.

Congress MP from Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore, stated that Ravi’s remarks on secularism was “unacceptable” and it goes against the Constitution of India.

“The statement of Tamil Nadu Governor on secularism is unacceptable and is against the Constitution of India and against the Idea of India by Mahatma Gandhi, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel,” Tagore said in his post.

“While the idea of secularism may be different in foreign countries, in India we respect all other religions, we respect all other traditions and we respect all other practices and this is the idea of secularism in India,” he added.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said that Ravi’s comment was completely contrary to the principles of his position.

“People in such honorable positions should maintain neutrally and refrain from such comments no matter to whom their core affiliations belong,” he stated.

Meanwhile, disagreeing with Ravi, DMK leader TKS Elangovan stated that secularism is the most essential concept in India.

“Secularism is not a European concept, it is an Indian concept as there are many religions in India. India is the motherland of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Secularism is the most needed concept in India, not in Europe,” Elangovan said.

Criticising Ravi for not understanding the Constitution of India, the DMK leader pointed out, “Article 25 says that there should be a conscious freedom of religion that he doesn’t know…He should go and read the constitution fully.”

CPI (M) Polit Bureau Member Brinda Karat commented that the Tamil Nadu Governor took an oath to uphold the Constitution, yet his remark that “secularism is a European concept” suggests he sees the Constitution as merely an “immediate concept”.

“Secularism is an intrinsic part of the Indian Constitution, not just a word. Its essence is the separation of power and religion, and the Supreme Court has affirmed, through multiple judgments, that secularism is a basic structure of the Constitution,” Karat emphasised.