India is a secular state because the overwhelming majority of the Indian people are secular in their outlook and have faith in the secular order. Yet, today, the secular order faces the most serious threat to its survival, since Independence.
In 1996, 75 per cent of the voters cast their votes for the secular parties. However, the BJP and its allies which secured only 25 per cent of the votes cast emerged as the single largest group, largely because the secular votes were divided among rival parties and alliances and there was no nation-wide Secular Alliance which could give one-to-one fight to the BJP-led alliance in every constituency.
Today, on the one hand, the BJP has not only entered into more opportunistic electoral alliances with parties which do not share its ideology or mission, but is also strenuously presenting a 'liberal' face in order to attract not so much the Muslim voters but the secular Hindu voters who are disenchanted with other parties or are sitting on the fence.
On the other hand, the secular parties continue to be divided, having generally failed even to make mutual adjustment or reach some understanding. Some are even contesting against each other in several constituencies! It is obvious that while in a triangular contest, the BJP-led alliance may gain, in a, four-sided contest it may sweep the poll!
Deeply concerned at the implication of this disunity for the future of the country, the undersigned, having constituted themselves into a Committee for the Defence of Secularism have decided to appeal directly to the secular voters in each constituency to step in wherever the parties have failed and, rising above religion, caste, language, geography, party label or personal considerations, support the strongest candidate of one secular party or the other who has the best chance to win and thus to ensure the secular character of the post-election government and defend the secular ethos of the Indian state.
To assist the Secular Voters, the Committee has also decided to suggest candidates, constituency-wise selected on the basis of the simple principle that other secular parties generally concede a Constituency to the secular party which won it, or lost it to the BJP or its allies, in 1996, subject to marginal adjustments arising out of changed circumstances.
One secular vote, not cast or wasted on a weak losing candidate, may mean victory for BJP-led alliance candidate in a Constituency and one seat more for their alliance may mean a BJP government in Delhi,
* The Committee appeals to the secular voters of all constituencies not only to vote massively but unitedly for the suggested candidates.
* The Committee appeals to all political parties, groups, formations as well as independents, to withdraw in favour of the suggested candidates in order not to divide the secular votes in any constituency.
* The Committee also appeals to all democratic and secular organisations and personalities to endorse the Appeal and the suggested candidates.
T.T.P. Abdullah Saiyid Hamid Ali Mohd. Khusro
Amrik Singh (Co-Convener) Azeez Burney
V.R. Krishna Iyer Kuldip Nayar Moosa Raza
S.M.H. Burney S. Nizamuddin Rabi Ray
Rajendra Sachar Rajni Kothari
S. Shahabuddin (Co-Convener)
