"Secularism doesn't mean you deny your own religion, culture": EAM Jaishankar
Secularism means respect for all religions and it does not mean that you deny your own religion or are somehow not proud of your culture and heritage, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday, clarifying what he means by the concept.
His remarks came during an interactive session in Odisha's Cuttack while campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid Lok Sabha elections.
On being asked how secularism can be incorporated in the country's foreign policy, EAM Jaishankar explained, «Now first of all let us be very clear what we mean by secularism. Secularism means respect for all religions. Secularism does not mean. that you deny your own religion or you are somehow not proud of your culture and heritage. Today's Bharat there are history, culture, and traditions.»
«These are facts of life. If something was there 3,000 years ago, it was a reality. So we should not be defensive about many of these things. I would respect all religions but obviously like you know, as an individual I will have pride in mind as a state I will be acting in a way in which I take cognizance of all but I do not in any way have to play down my own identity in that respect. And I think we get respect for it also,» he said.
Minister also highlighted that India has become a "Vishwabandhu" nation that works with everyone in harmony in the world which has instability, chaos and war.
«A 'Vishwabandhu' nation has an international advantage. A 'Vishwabandhu' works with everyone in harmony in a world which has instability, chaos
