Can or should Congress compete with BJP?

BJP double standards are exposed when the Parliament is in session. The blame is pinned entirely on the 44 unruly members (Congress) of the family (Parliament) as they are not allowing the vision and the mission of the PM to function due to disruption at Parliament. Indeed PM Modi has one of the optimistic, growth oriented, vibrant and garrulous approach and vision for the nation and its people. But that does not mean, PM Modi has to become PM Manmohan Singh (not for economics but for keeping his mouth shut) when there are certain contentious that the opposition wants the answer from the Head of the Govt.

Last year, when BJP won 282 seats, it was jubilant for India as a nation. After 25 years of coalition politics, we had elected a party with majority and everybody thought the impediment to growth had been the various alliance partners and now there is a clear path to growth and productivity. Yet the Congress with its worst performance of 44 seats is giving its best performance (to their standards). Or I guess we are living in a nation and at a time, where the minority wields more power and strength than the majority.

Even though some of those have been not so contentious issues to stall Parliament, like last time, there was Lalitgate (Sushma Swaraj), corruption issue of Vasundhra Raje and Babri lynching case, the PM has to respond to the nation but his attitude disappointed me. I just expect better from Mr Modi. Still the opposition did its best at what it is best, stalling the Parliament. I agreed with certain reasons of the Congress, they also have to answer the little electorate left with them or their party members.

But this time, it was not just an olive branch that the PM extended to Congress. He really followed on the high pitch tagline (I do remember from his numerous tags and captions), sabka saath, sabka vikas (Let’s work together for Progress of All). He invited the President of the Congress, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi (where would she be without that surname, ever wonder) and Dr. Manmohan Singh over tea before the beginning of the Winter Session and he must have explained and communicated his predicaments in the way or manner Prime Minister’s do.

But then came the National Herald case or what not and what not, OK, the opposition party has been eliminated from the whole process of governance, that’s why they have the right to disrupt Parliament but not allowing it to function, it’s arsony. Bringing the personal issue of Italian Miss and her RaGa (fancy name devised after NaMo, but no effect) is actually stalling the nation to gun point.

Let’s try to look at the BJP’s performance as the opposition party, when UPA was in power. Sitting time lost to disruptions was 38% in the first 8 sessions of UPA. During UPA-II, BJP created a record at disruption, just like created a record at amount in scams, the disruption element was 61% and 66% in the Upper House, which is uphill task for BJP to crack. GST Bill was introduced by Pranab Mukherjee (then Finance Minister now The President) but to no avail due to disruptions by BJP then.

It is the politics of confrontation by BJP and Congress against each other which is harmful for the nation in the long run. Both have Parliament obligation to ask questions and create ruckus in Parliament but not allowing it to function is not in the right flavor of the secular democratic, we claim ourselves to be.

Just like Congress has its reasons and stupidity for parliament disruption, BJP able speaker summed it up pretty succinctly, Arun Jaitley said “If parliamentary accountability is subverted and a debate is intended to be used merely to put a lid on parliamentary accountability, it is then a legitimate tactic for the Opposition to expose the government through parliamentary instruments available at its command.”

Come what may, Congress was right or wrong for whatever reasons, they should have allowed the Parliament to discuss the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill, it is the Bill which will unlock the key to the consistent growth pattern and single model of functioning across the 32 States that India can achieve as a nation. Actually the President of the Congress should be tried for treason for stalling the growth of the nation.

Or are they trying to better the BJP’s record of disruption, which is a bad parameter of comparison and should be condemned at the highest pitch. Whatever their political compulsions or situations be, if they can sit and dine at each other’s children’s weddings, I guess they can definitely find a way to function Parliament.

BJP has asserted moral right to pin the blame on Congress but they took pride in disrupting Parliament the entire time. There were issues that were important to people and there are issues which are important to the political parties.

And then there are some issues which are important to the nation, so taking a leaf from its history Congress could have allowed at least the GST Bill to be cleared and kept the moral vicissitude, or rights, duties or obligations to other issues in the Parliament. Nothing is credited to the BJP for the disruptions at the time when they were in opposition. Does Congress think that whenever GST Bill is legislated, it will be to its credit? After the long baggage and slow process of bringing all the States was done by Congress. Yet I doubt.

Congress will break BJP’s record of disruption. Let’s Pray and Hope, it doesn’t. It is neither good for our charismatic PM or for the nation. There are other parameters from which Congress can learn and imitate from BJP.

Nanhe balak chor or sirf choos (Cute kid as thief or sheer stupids)

Back in 2013, I was travelling the long route from South Delhi to ISBT by auto and then I saw four – five stalled autos in front of us at the traffic lights with AAP banner with their eponymous jhadoo symbol. I was surprised to see, new party on the block and I asked my auto driver, which is this new party and he tells me, “sahib, these banners are bought by these auto wallahs and not given by the party. The price they have paid has gone into party koshers”. I was appalled at the discovery of this new party and how poor people are contributing towards it.

Going back to election results of New Delhi 2014 elections, the election results were a true shocker for the average working class and the elite political class of India. When Kejriwal took oath, he read his own oath after the ceremonial oath about no bribery, honesty and blah-blah-blah and then he sat on a dharna as a CM against the Home Ministry and the Central Govt. True to their form as erstwhile leader of AAP Yogesh Yadav said, we are group of individuals on how to gather people or perform a dharna or make appropriate noise to be heard. We are not traditional political party, we know little about politics and we are learning fast. Kejriwal was blinded by his victory and aimed to become the PM, rising on his Delhi elections result and resigned after 49 days at the helm of Delhi State. Again a damn new thing in the Indian political history, portrayed by Kejriwal and AAP.

With eye on the Lok Sabha elections, they coined catchy slogans like all:

“Delhi mein Sheila haari hai, ab Modi ki baari hai” (Sheila lost in Delhi, it’s Modi’s turn now) 
 “Jo Kejriwal se darta hai, do-do jagah se ladhta hai” (Those who fear Kejriwal contest from two constituencies) 

“Bhrashtrachar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal” (The scourge for corrupt people is Kejriwal)

“Baba ladhe the Goron se, Hum ladhenge choron se” (Baba fought the British, we will fight the thieves) 

“Chahe Mama ho ya bhanja, Jeeja ho ya sadhu, sab par bhari padne wali hai, aam aadmi ka jhadu” (Aam Aadmi’s jhadu will prevail over uncle-nephew, brothers-in-law)

BJP announced Delhi elections warily in 2015, although there confidence was nauseating low but somehow the inevitable had to happen, but AAP got such a majority in Delhi and it’s a record even compared to Nehru and Indira times of Congress. Delhi Assembly looks more like an internal meeting of AAP, then a State Assembly. Especially the remarks from Our aam aadmi CM makes completes the picture, like he is talking about Modi’s salary to Obama’s salary, I mean do State Heads need to talk about Assembly or do they talk about how many millions voted for them.

From the day our CM has taken charge of Office, the Central Govt. has completely hostile attitude towards him. It may be true. Ever since, the State of Delhi was brought into formation and from the first Govt till today, first Govt. belonged to BJP in 1994 and Madan Lal Khurana was the first CM. The clash of duties and responsibilities exist. During Sheila’s time, LK Advani had said that Delhi CM should have his/her word with Centre on certain issues and they reached an agreement in some context but never the changes were brought on paper. For ten years out of 15, Sheila enjoyed as Central and State Govts were Congress.

Whether it is BJP or PM, it doesn’t matter, Kejriwal is only CM for entertainment and he is digging his own grave. Getting to the current issue of CBI raid on CM’s Chief Secretary is a big question on Kejriwal. Like Kejriwal has sworn to honesty, Mr Modi has also sworn to honesty. Attacking Mr Modi in his heydays is not going to do any good to AAP, his Govt or to the people.

His officer is guilty of misappropriation or not, will come into the investigation. Moreover Kejriwal does not have to attack as the charges against the officer are subject to validation and he has gone berserk as if he has been named in the report. But Kejriwal shows his intelligence by calling PM, a coward and psychopath. I don’t know, what makes him say this, whether he becomes khaas aadmi or elevates as the best aam aadmi.

Like PM’s bitter tongue pre-election or in campaign in Bihar is not good, a nation’s capital’s CM is calling the Head of the State names is a disaster. Or attacking the FM openly, will absolve him of his stupidity. Definitely his clean record is allowing him to stay in his office but the day he slips up, he will be in deep trouble. One may not be happy with the superiors in the Office but calling on them openly is not good for the country, for themselves and for the people.

He has every right to fight with the PM and the BJP to take complete control of his State but at the same time he has to remember, he is not a protestor or a street fighter fighting for so-called social causes, he is the head of the State, head of the Govt. so his demeanor has to reflect the same. Now the aam aadmi, Kejriwal is CM and hence donned politician’s garb wherein he finds excuses for not doing his job properly just like every other politician. Rather than questioning or attacking the Central Govt., he needs to fix the issues of Delhiites rather he is busy playing political mud slinging match.

I don’t understand does he ever realize the mandate he got? Does he ever realize on what promises he is voted to power? Despite his sheer buffoonery the first time, people still supported him in droves and yet he is hugging Laloo Yadav and saying what not against the Head of the State.

The more apparent thing for him to do is stop fighting the lost battle which is not good for anybody and focus on governance. I am very certain, his green plank esp. of odd-even formula is going to bite him in the ass. It’s a strategic political battle which he is bound to lose.

The most important thing for him is to try and stop himself to be a politician and continue to connect with the people on the basis on which he is voted to power. He may continue his political struggle with the Central Govt. but in a dignified and genteel manner. But governance should be number one and number two and number three priority.

Heck, I feel like a buffoon at times, thinking that he may bring different style of functioning in Indian politics and Indian bureaucracy.

From AAP to TU (Odd - Even is bound to FAIL)

I am planning to buy a car in the price range of Rs. 8 – 11 Lakhs. My best choice remains Hyundai Creta, an SUV. But given the latest stupidity of Mr Arvind Kejriwal of plying odd-even car numbers on alternate days, it might be better if I buy two hatchbacks in the price range of Rs 5.00 Lacs with one in odd number and the other even. But then I was just discussing with my friend, why the hell two cars for this stupidity and buy Creta from Haryana and you are good. Govt will not be able to track other States car coming in and out of Delhi.

Before I make my decision to buy new car, let’s take a look at the buffoonery of Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP Govt. in Delhi. I understand his predicament with Mr Modi and why and how Central Govt. is not allowing them to function the way they want to and their head is stuck in their asses. But if Modi has gotten Kejriwal’s head stuck in his own ass that does not give the right to Kejriwal to harass the people of Delhi. He may continue his fight in whichever way he feels comfortable with the PM but he can leave people out of it and not drag everybody into the mud.

Odd-Even Alternate alternative is done in the wage of standing attack against the Govt. of Delhi to not able to do anything to provide clean air to the people. The environmentalists have been sounding the bugle to do something for quite some time and this is what the Govt. can offer its people in lieu of the fact that Delhi’s air can be cleaned.

It seems Mr Kejriwal has still not gotten into the mode that he is the CM and not the protestor against the Central Govt. I mean he had no issues to get into the suit of the politician when he is fighting for rights and autonomy from Modi Govt. or hugging the messiah of masses/chariot of Fodder Scam, Mr Laloo Yadav to make political statement but CM suit is too big for his size.

If the said solution to control pollution is to embarrass the Home Ministry because Delhi Police is under Home Ministry then I guess he has struck bang on. Again a political statement but not for something for which their party, apparently termed AAP, got huge mandate to govern Delhi. Such stupidity or idiotic order is pretty difficult for Delhi Police to comply especially when there is shortage of staff, the VIPs they have to protect, keep a check on terrorist elements and last but not least protecting people of Delhi.

Implementing such an order will be an administrative nightmare for Delhi Police. What will be the happenstance of hundreds of thousands of people commuting from NCR to Delhi for jobs, work and business? Will this apply to them as well or only to vehicles with Delhi number plates. This order will wreak havoc on dealers/agents dealing in automobiles in Delhi and not to mention the revenue loss to Delhi Govt.

I understand and I stand with the environmentalists that we may send our kids to Moon but we will struggle to offer our next gen clean air and adequate water. The present generation has to set its foot in the door to try and jam the process. I am sure as a nation, as a State, as a person we can do better than odd-even number alternate days solution. There have been other nations where such formula was implemented but it failed.

In Singapore, Govt. has imposed such high taxes on cars that they discourage people to own cars due to paucity of space in their city country. But at the same time, the Govt. has provided an excellent metro network interconnected with Mercedes feeder buses and other shuttle services which uses single payment system, cards issued by Metro Authority, that one is really comfortable using their public transportation system. For people who enjoy driving on their own, there is alternate system of cars with red number plates which can ply on roads from 8 PM to 8 AM, Sundays and national holidays.

A nation is developed not when the poor can afford cars but when rich can use the means developed for the poorest. Mumbaiites have more resources than Delhiites but still they use public transport system because their feeder system is auto-rickshaws and kaali-peeli (black-yellow) cabs which are professional and efficient. They don’t waste their time and commuters time by haggling over fares instead honestly take the shortest route and charge you to the exact paise on the basis of the rates set by Govt. and hardly ever say NO to a customer, no matter how short the journey route may be. But in Delhi, Kejriwal’s vote bank are auto rickshaw drivers who will quote double or triple the fares or else take you on Delhi darshan for destination which is stone’s throwaway from you. Delhi’s autos and taxis hardly switch on the meter and worse they will ply on their favourite routes and not to commuters service.

To control pollution, traffic regulation has to be studied and mined and mapped more appropriately so that halted vehicles and slow moving traffic do not pollute uncessantly on roads but the traffic has unrestricted flow. To follow Mr Modi, who is working so hard to generate the additional power required for the nation through solar and wind farms for which he is gaining laurels internationally. Modiji is offering subsidy/incentives to people building solar/wind farms. Individuals who are installing solar panels on their roof tops, incentivizing them to switch to clean energy.

More updates are coming for the policy, but my question is, so many people drive in from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan everyday for meeting purposes to Delhi, will it apply to them as well? Women are exempt from this scheme, which means people will be clobbering into the cars of their woman colleagues. Worse if it applies to taxis and autos. Companies are already thinking on how to ensure their workers reach office without the convenience of driving in their own car which they own but is parked at home. Delhi is full of jugaadis, let’s see what innovation they bring to beat the Govt. for their stupidity. More so, second hand car dealers will rake in moolah and definitely the number of cars purchased will go up. In six months, we will be back to the same traffic and same pollution from cars if this scheme continues for long. 

The question and issue of Motorcycles/Scooters has not been brought into this article, that how much an aam aadmi will be harassed by the notification of Delhi Govt. run by Aam Aadmi Party.

Do we foresee accusation of hiked bribes by Home Ministry and Delhi Police by AAP?

Delhi Govt. can levy more taxes on diesel and reduce taxes on petrol as petrol is much cleaner than diesel. Removal of taxes on CNG kits so that more people shift to CNG, which is cleanest alternative and cheaper as well and increase accessibility and availability of CNG. Considerable reduction of taxes on cars running on batteries will be beneficial. Making your Pollution Check Centres efficient that they do not renew certificates of vehicles which do not pass the standards.

A person who is buying a car is already paying road tax upto 8% for roads and pollution in addition to the excise duty, sales tax on the vehicle they have paid and still Govt. has the audacity to show its stupidity. A person who owns a vehicle is paying approximately 25 – 30% as taxes to the Govt. one way or the other and the least the Govt. can offer is to allow them to drive their vehicle to their convenience on whatever conditions of roads the Govt. had provided.

But instead Kejriwal is working hard to prove Mr Jaitey right, that the experiment that Delhi’s people have undertaken with AAP will only be a hindrance to the people. Everything is a protest for Kejriwal and he doesn’t seem to understand the word or term, “Governance”.

Come January 1^st, we may see a bigger mess on Delhi roads.

Test Cricket will not die a Martyr

While watching IPL, I wondered or feared for the life and career of a bowler. Especially IPL taking almost three months of a year from the best international cricket players, their mindset will be structured around 20-20 and they would cease to play the traditional game of test cricket. Paresh Rawal makes a point in the movie, Cheeni Kum, cricket ko rang-birangi dress mein circus bana diya hai (Playing cricket in coloured uniform is like performing in a circus)….. Real Cricket is Test Cricket, Five grueling days to test the perseverance and talent. Or in other words, cricket will never be able to find out another of Rahul Dravid’s class in future.

In T20, the bowlers’ performance appears as Overs-Dot Balls-Runs-Wickets. Dot balls and sixes are the most important element of T20 cricket. Bowler emphasizes on the fact that he does not get hit big and not on the line, length or the swing, the surreal art of cricket is dying a slow death. T20 needless to say has made most millionaires in any industry in our country.

Test cricket matches are wrapped up in three days, so we may be moving towards shorter version of five day matches. Is it time, to take a call on the same as well? Maybe we may make the fourth version of the game popular as well. Rahul Dravid said, Test Cricket is different ball game, you have to take 20 wickets to be declared as winner. While in ODIs, you just have to restrict the other side.

Getting back to the current India – South Africa test series, Indians fans were fretting over the fact that Indian team offered a meager chase of 217 for fourth innings at first Test in Mohali to the mighty South Africans who have never lost test match series outside of their home in last 9 years. Just when Indian fans would have started screaming at Virat Kohli due to poor performance with bat and shopping with his Bollywood actress girlfriend, Anushka Sharma, Indian team bundled out the South Africans for 109. An Indian fan was very surprised at the Indian team’s bowling feat but in India, with spin bowling, Indians are able to perform.

Its only in match analysis, we got to know that the heroes were not our bowlers but the pitch for whom it was curated to perfection. So much so, that what happens to match on 3^rd or 4^th day starting happening on the first day. Our pacers who are always chewing their nails especially after T20 were left flabbergasted once again as the spinners raked in the moolah and they didn’t even get a chance to apply saliva on the ball.

To South Africa’ luck, second test was washed off and then came the third test. 12 wickets fell on first day, 20 on second, remaining 8 on third day for India to clinch the series. Virat Kohli’s magic is happening along with our able Director who strategizes well enough to beat the mighty South Africans.

Clearly again the pitch was the winner and Test Cricket was the loser. I mean, why is the CRICKET losing in this proposition? Similar happened to India in Johannesburg, 2 decades back and I guess it was experimental but this time it seems it may become the norm, a T20 match produces more runs that the third test match between Indian and SA. Ashwin, the magician with carom ball lashes out, if they can do it, what’s wrong with us doing it?

If pitch will perform for the players and then what are players doing on the field? India should have home advantage but that not is all the advantage and leverage and talent in the match. I mean, we want to see classy shots from Murali Vijay or few sixes from Dhawan or fiery batting of AB, some classics of Amla.

Cricket is about competition, about challenges on the field, improvisation according to the situation. But in this case, Ashwin has to demolish the opposition and batsmen have no chance to sweat on the field. Indian team is like a spoilt son of rich man. BCCI does not believe in the talent of its team, hence they have taken the task unto themselves to help them win.

During Mohali, we were still anxious as to what would happen but Nagpur, everybody was certain Ashwin will bowl them out, Jadeja and Mishra will be his sidekicks, it’s just a matter of time. There was a twist when Rahul Dravid’s spirit was hovering over Amla and du Plessis but Dravid pulled some classy strokes in between, while these two were just trying to hold onto the wicket and not win the match, because there was no chance.

I am glad at small element, in the era of T20 when fours and sixes rein and bowlers are merely present to bowl, no technique, no logic, just aim for dot balls, bowlers still have a life. Test Cricket gives them their due importance but like this, when the spinner has to bowl as they fall like a tower of cards but offers nothing for the batsman, only for the bowler. If other nations start emulating India’s strategy, Test Cricket will not even die a martyr but will be murdered by pitch curators and Cricket Board.

I urge Dravid and the likes to work with BCCI and other cricket associations to produce better pitches to allow the competitive game to be witnessed in every format. If Test Cricket has to die, it should die as a HERO and forbearer and the spirit of cricket but not a terrorist.

Kalam ko Salaam

Going back to the last week of July, there were two events which rocked the nation back and forth, passing away of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and upstage drama leading upto Yakub Memon’s hanging. But before we begin, let’s take a peak into the dialogues of Akshay Kumar from the movie Namastey London.

• §  When we greet one another, we fold our hands in namaste because we believe that God resides in the heart of every human being.
• §  We come from a nation where we allow a lady of Catholic origin to step aside for a Sikh to be sworn in as Prime Minister by a Muslim President to govern a nation of over 80 percent Hindus.
• §  It may also interest you to know that many of the origins of your English words come from Sanskrit. For example, "maatra" becomes "mother", "bhratra" becomes "brother", "giamiti" becomes "geometry", and "trikonniti" becomes "trigonometry".
• §  We have 5,600 newspapers, 35,000 magazines in over 21 different languages with a combined readership of 120 million.
• §  We have reached the moon and back yet you people still feel that we have only reached as far as the Indian rope trick.
• §  We are the third largest nation in the world of doctors, engineers, and scientists. 
• §  Maybe your grandfather didn't tell you that we have the third largest army in the world. And even then, I fold my hands in humility before you because we don't believe that we are above or beneath any individual.

A lot of Indians are in awe of this speech, its does actually makes Englishmen think and take notice. India is more than land of KamaSutra and Yoga or the land of snake charmers as mentioned in the movie. But for me, the particular line of interest is the second bullet point. Such an event would have been possible without Dr. Kalam.

The press has been mentioned as “presstitute” after the last week of July as they gave more coverage to Yakub Memon’s hanging than the uneventful death of Dr. Kalam and eventful celebrations of the genius’ simple life. The greatest irony in the whole situation was the fact a Muslim, a scientist, a Gandhian missile, an OBC category national hero (who in India can possess such traits) died what he believed in most that is changing the mindset or influencing or motivating the future of the country, the students; and a Muslim, a terrorist (or may be not), a Chartered Accountant, a person who was the link (strong or weak, we can keep arguing) between the perpetrators of Bombay ’93 blasts (Mumbai was Bombay then) was hanged to death.

Yakub Memon should be hanged or not, his petitions, plea reached the highest offices of the country in 72 hours prior to his hanging. Nobody processes files in Indian Govt, Office of the President or the Supreme Court in such urgency, which admitted the petition at 9PM on Wednesday for hearing at 2AM Thursday morning, yet he had to meet the Allah and hence files moved with an unknown alacrity.

The sampradayak political shenanigans started buzzing, Yakub Menon is hanged because he is a Muslim or other such notorious stuff which has no relevance to the facts of the case or the fact of the situation. Crime or the law does not see the religion of the person. Maybe, of course they did see a political opportunity to make themselves felt or needed for the community and the result, they may be projected as bigger and better leader.

Probably he belonged to upper/middle class, otherwise dalit sambandhi group would have also raised their flag, that atrocities are taking place against the backward/poor Dalits in the land of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who created an equal Constitution of India for everybody and yet we are discriminated, that too when we are nearing 70 years of Independence (Modiji refers to 60 years of Congress rule but actually we are nearing 70 and BJP also ruled for 6 years).

If there is a controversy or something new, then only its news, otherwise press is just disseminating the information. Yakub Menon offered more to chat and discuss then Dr. Kalam.

But here comes my moot point, Why is Dr. Kalam not mentioned as a Muslim first? Why didn’t no big/giant Muslim leader offer a passionate speech for Dr. Kalam to inspire people of their own religion (because they believe they exist to protect and harness their minority religion only for their own political leverage)?

Instead he was the only person in the country, who had no religion for people to judge? He was an OBC category scientist but no Dalit came forward and said, I am proud to belong to the Dr. Kalam’s caste and we will achieve more than what he had achieved and we will not use our Caste Card for it.

Dr. Kalam was made President by accident as well. BJP led NDA Govt. was in power, Mr Vajpayee literally fought a no-confidence motion every year during his six years of tenure. BJP wanted to nominate a President of their choice and they were facing issues from every angle, every nook and corner. A party which is often referred to as soft terrorists or hard Hindutva (I don’t understand those terms much) nominated Dr. Kalam.

Every party person lined up behind Dr. Kalam. Every two words that come to describe the magnanimous personality of Dr. Kalam are exact opposites of each other like a Gandhian missile man. We will find few Muslims in this country who will admit that they believe in Gandhian philosophy. Dr. Kalam has designed and delivered the Agni Missile Programme for the nation and yet he is Gandhian (who believed in non-violence).

No Hindu or other leader of this country has been respected as Dr. Kalam and loved, so much so that all the parties irrespective of their ideology or issues, attended his funeral done with full state honour. More so, his quotes and life philosophy continues to aspire the students of a nation like India.

My moot point remains, why is it important to highlight the religion of a terrorist? Why doesn’t the national hero’s religion is of no importance for the people of his religion?