“They who interpret secularism as dharma-nirpekshata fail to understand either dharma or secularism. A secular state does not mean an anti-religious state, nor even an irreligious state. For, in that sense, the people of India just never can become secular. A secular state simply means a state which does not identify itself with any specific mode of worship and holds the balance even between all sects- secularism thus mean sampradayanirpekshata and not dharma-nirpekshata.”

—  Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Session, Indore – September, 7-8, 1968
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee 30
10th Prime Minister of India 1924–2018

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