The article,“FDCA Seeks Revival amid Rising CommunalChallenges, Calls for Public Mobilisation to Defend Constitutional Values”(Radiance, 4 July 2026) rightlydraws attention to the growing challenge of communal polarisation and the importance ofprotecting the constitutional values that unite our nation.
India’s strength has always been its diversity. However, increasing incidents of communalhatred and mistrust threaten not only social harmony but also the constitutional vision of aninclusive and democratic society. In our view, communal harmony is not merely a moral ideal;it is a constitutional commitment. The Preamble to the Constitution of India, together withArticles 14, 15, 21, and 25, guarantees equality, liberty, dignity, and freedom of religion toevery citizen. Article 51A(e) further reminds every citizen of the duty to promote harmony andthe spirit of common brotherhood. These constitutional values must remain the guidingprinciples of our public life.
While organisations working to promote peace and constitutional awareness make valuablecontributions, lasting harmony requires the collective efforts of governments, publicinstitutions, civil society, the media, and citizens alike. Laws against hate speech and communalviolence must be enforced fairly and impartially. Educational institutions should strengthenconstitutional literacy, and the media should continue to encourage responsible and balancedpublic discourse. Equally important, citizens must reject hatred, respect religious diversity, anduphold the values of mutual trust and fraternity.
The Constitution provides not only our legal framework but also our shared moral vision as anation. We hope this discussion encourages all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment toconstitutional values, strengthen communal harmony, and preserve India’s enduring traditionof unity in diversity.
Association for Protection of Civil Rights (ACPR)
Chennai
Isn’t it Might is Right?
Your editorial entitled “Protect Freedom and Liberty”(Radiance, 27June 2026) has nicely dealt with some provisions relating to liberty, equality, fraternity and especially right to the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Constitution of India. The right to freedom of religion permits a citizen to accept or reject a religion or to change his religion if he desires so.
Based on these provisions of the Constitution, Ayush Malik voluntarily reverted to Islam and changed his name to Mohammad Ali in 2016. Almost eight years after his revert to Islam, he entered into wedlock with a Muslim girl named Chandni Qureshi. He publicly declared before press and social media that he had embraced Islam out of his free will after profound study on Islam and its tenets. Nobody has put any kind of pressure and coercion on him to accept Islam. Notably, it is strictly prohibited (haram) in Islam to forcefully convert a person to Islam (the Qur’an 2:256).
In spite of his declaration, some Hindus belonging to VHP, RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal exerted pressures upon him to renounce Islam and return to Hinduism, his ancestral religion. Finally, he was compelled to submit to their pressures. The right to freedom of religion is thus strangulated and trampled in India. It is seen that after assumption of power by the BJP Govt. at Centre and in some states since 2014, the minorities particularly Muslims have been experiencing gross violation of social, cultural and religious rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution. They are mob-lynched, their religious places and seminaries vandalised, ruined, and expropriated, their residential areas evicted and so on. Even the Muslims are routinely required to give proof about their citizenship and also prohibited to consume their lawful foods in some states. The BJP Govt. is thus misusing the constitutional powers bestowed upon it by unjustly targeting and harassing minorities in India. Isn’t it Might is Right continuing in India?
Muhammad Abdus Samad
Ambari,Dhupdhara, Assam
Public Confusion
The Ministry of External Affairs’ recent clarification that the Indian Passport is a mere travel document and not a citizenship proof has triggered public confusion. This clarification comes in response to the ongoing debate regarding the SIR and the utility of the passport in restoring the axed voters. In India, citizens are required to possess multiple documents like Voter Identity Card, Aadhaar Card, PAN, Passport and Ration Card yet none of them is enough to bolster one’s identity.
The passport is a globally recognised citizenship document issued after police verification of an applicant. The implication that it has value abroad but not at home reflects a lack of practicality.
Several citizens possessing sanctioned documents were disfranchised ahead of elections and are awaiting restoration of their franchise. The sharp plummet in passport rankings was barely acknowledged but the recent development demands urgent intervention of the Centre.
Aayman Anwar Ali
Kolkata, West Bengal