I studied in missionary school; I am secular: Advani

Shillong, Sept 29: Seen as the face of hardline Hindutva, senior BJP leader L K Advani on Monday said he was "very much a secular man" and his party stood for peaceful co-existence of all religious groups. "I studied in a Christian missionary school and I am very much a secular man," a BJP spokesperson quoted Advani as saying during a close-door meeting he had with religious leaders here. Representatives from Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and tribal organizations participated in the meet that was aimed at clarifying the saffron party's stand on the attacks on Christians, churches and prayer halls in Orissa and Karnataka. Quoting the BJP leader, BJP MP, Kiren Rijiju said that "religious sentiment should not precede national interest. India is a secular country and no section of the society should be neglected. "In Orissa, untouchability among the Hindus and a simmering discontent among the lower strata have drawn people to other religions. Social acceptance is a big dilemma there," the BJP leader said.   Read more