Abstract

This study examines the contrasting approaches to secularism adopted by Indias two major political parties the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Secularism in India enshrined in the Constitution is characterized by the states equal treatment of all religions. However the interpretation and implementation of this principle have varied significantly between the Congress party and the BJP. The Congress party has traditionally advocated for a form of secularism that emphasizes the separation of religion from state affairs while ensuring minority rights and protection. This approach has been influenced by its historical roots in the struggle for independence and its commitment to a pluralistic society. In contrast the BJP promotes a vision of secularism that is often intertwined with its ideology of Hindutva which emphasizes the cultural dominance of Hindu values within the public sphere. This has led to a different interpretation of secularism that sometimes ch