Amartya Sen says recent poll results prove India not a 'Hindu Rashtra'
Amartya Sen, commenting on the recent Lok Sabha election, said on Thursday that the results indicate India is not a 'Hindu Rashtra'. He criticised the practice of incarcerating people without trial, which he said has persisted from the British era and has become more prevalent under the BJP government compared to the Congress regime. Sen also addressed issues of wealth disparity, political openness, and secularism.
Sen arrived in Kolkata from the US on Wednesday evening and shared his views with a Bengali news channel at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
«That India is not a Hindu Rashtra only has been reflected in the election results,» Sen remarked.
The 90-year-old economist emphasized the need for change following elections. Highlighting continuity in certain adverse practices, he commented, «Some of what happened earlier (during the BJP-led central government) like putting people behind bars without trial, and widening the gap between the rich and poor, are still continuing. That must stop.»
Sen underscored the importance of being politically open-minded in a secular country like India. «I do not think the idea of turning India into a Hindu Rashtra is appropriate,» he said.
Reflecting on the composition of the new Union cabinet, Sen observed, «The new Union cabinet is a copy of the earlier one. The ministers continue to hold similar portfolios. Despite a slight reshuffle, the politically powerful are still powerful.»
He recalled his childhood experiences during British rule when many
